After Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari lashed out at the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) over alleged rigging in the first phase of elections for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz hit back by urging him to accept his party’s defeat rather than “crying” over the loss.
The first phase, which saw elections in 13 constituencies of Mirpur Division, resulted in the PPP winning four seats to the PMLN’s nine, according to provisional results. In her video statement, Nawaz said the PPP should accept its defeat with an “open heart,” as “crying will not help” it in the ongoing process.
Rejecting the rigging allegations, she said there was no evidence to back Bhutto-Zardari’s remarks. “The decision in an election is made by the people, not by the state,” she said, referring to the PPP leader’s allegation of the “state” facilitating the PMLN. Nawaz regretted that those raising allegations of rigging were “themselves involved in electoral malpractice” during the polls.
The chief minister said political parties should accept the public mandate to strengthen democracy. She urged the PPP to review its performance and submit to self-accountability to determine the reasons for its loss. She noted that Sindh had been under the PPP’s rule for 17 years and its governance in the province was visible to all. She urged the Sindh government to improve sanitation, law and order and road infrastructure in the province to benefit the public.
Criticizing the PPP’s election campaign, led by Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, she said it had failed to present the Sindh government’s performance or outline a roadmap for the future. Rather, she said, it had relied on leveling allegations and personal attacks. She also reminded the PPP leader that his party had been in power in AJK for the past year, adding the situation had deteriorated under the same setup.
“People in AJK are demanding better healthcare facilities, while those whose own roads are broken cannot improve roads in AJK,” Maryam added.
Thanking the people of AJK for supporting the PMLN in the first phase of the election, she maintained they had voted for development. The PMLN, she added, would fulfill its promises to the people of AJK.
Bhutto-Zardari’s allegations
Earlier, addressing a workers’ convention in Muzaffarabad, the PPP chairman had questioned whether the situation in Azad Kashmir could be described as democracy. He claimed PPP candidates had secured a majority in line with the public’s votes and expectations and said the “state” must decide whether the national interest was more important than the PMLN’s interest.
Thanking the people of Mirpur for their support, he vowed to ensure the PPP protested its mandate. Questioning how attacks could have taken place at 30 polling stations despite security arrangements, he alleged the phased voting process was designed to facilitate rigging.
He said Azad Kashmir must not be allowed to resemble India-held Kashmir, lamenting that ongoing internet shutdowns had created such an impression. He alleged the “story of rigging” had not begun today and the “state” giving preference to the PMLN’s interests over the “national interest” was not a new development.
Referring to ongoing protests in AJK by the Joint Awami Action Committee, he claimed the dispute could have been resolved peacefully without any loss of life if “certain promises” had been fulfilled. He maintained he did not believe all the demands of the protesters should be accepted, adding a political solution was possible. He said the protesters should also have adopted constitutional means.
Urging people to vote, he said they should cast their ballots for Kashmir, regardless of which political party they supported.
Describing the PPP as a “peaceful” party, he said its workers wanted to participate in elections peacefully and within the constitutional system. However, he added, attacks on party workers and polling stations could not be tolerated. “We are peaceful and want to remain peaceful; otherwise I am the son of President Zardari, the nephew of Mir Murtaza Bhutto and Mir Shahnawaz Bhutto,” he added.