Pakistan-occupied Kashmir is up in arms after elections held on July 21 were allegedly rigged in favour of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League. The rigged polls made PML-N the clear winner with them securing 32 out of 41 seats.
Major PoK towns like Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Chinari and Mirpur witnessed protests after members of the PML (N) allegedly killed a supporter of the Muslim Conference (MC) in Muzaffarabad. The protestors burnt tyres, blocked traffic and clashed with police. Several cases of injuries were reported as the PoK administration moved to clamp down on press reporting.
"After rigging elections, the PML (N) is now indulging in widespread propaganda and killing. They have killed our friend. If the authorities fail to take any action, they will be responsible for any future incident," a Muslim Conference leader said.
The Human Rights Groups in PoK have confirmed allegations of money and muscle power being used to win elections. Some protesters claimed genuine voters were not allowed to cast their votes and Pakistan's spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence rigged the polls in favour of PML (N).
"There was rigging in the elections and huge money was distributed to buy the votes. In the Mirpur area, there were many such cases of buying of votes," former PoK PM and Muslim Conference leader Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhary said.
Locals allege that elections in PoK are always fixed in favour of the ruling party in Pakistan, in current instance, for the PML-N.
"In 2011, PPP formed government in PoK because it was ruling at that time. It is a joke with the people who exercise their right to vote. If people think elections will bring change then they are living in fool's paradise," a Muzaffarabad resident said.
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