The third phase of elections for the regional assembly of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was held on Monday amid intense violence and allegations of bogus voting.
With elections in 7 constituencies in the Poonch division already postponed indefinitely due to a breakdown of law and order, voting was held only in 4 constituencies in the districts of Bagh and Haveli.
As the Election Commission had warned that most polling stations in these areas were tense, clashes broke out in many places between workers of the ruling PML-N and PPP parties.
Complaints have been raised that voters, election officials, and agents who were supposed to go to polling stations were prevented from doing so, and that PPP agents were forcibly expelled.
Earlier, the first and second phases of the elections were also held amid allegations of violence and irregularities. In these two phases, Nawaz Sharif’s PML-N party has secured a majority and is in the lead.
Due to the continuous protests held by members of the ‘JAAC’ organization demanding the abolition of refugee constituencies in this legislative assembly, violence has prevailed in the region over the past few months. It is noteworthy that many civilians lost their lives in the government’s harsh crackdown.
