3 weeks ago
Pakistan's ruling party heads for Kashmir majority amid deadly clashes
People in the part of Kashmir that Pakistan controls were voting to choose who would lead their region.
One group called the PML-N has won the most votes so far and looks likely to be in charge.
But the election is not finished, because some places are too dangerous to vote in and voting there has been delayed.
Part of the election also had to be done again after problems during the first vote.
There were fights during the election, and the internet was turned off for a while.
A protest group says more than 30 people were killed near a town called Rawalakot, but the government says that is not true.
Some people are angry about 12 special seats meant for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir, saying people who do not live there are filling them.
Another big party decided not to take part because it believed the election would not be fair, while another party that did take part says the winners cheated.
The winners say they did not cheat.
Many experts think the region will stay angry and uneasy even after the election is over.
Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N) had secured 25 seats in the 53-seat assembly as of Wednesday and is widely expected to win a majority.
Voting was postponed in seven constituencies from Monday to a date yet to be determined due to mounting security concerns.
A rerun of voting in 23 polling stations across two constituencies, ordered after Monday's irregularities, is scheduled for Saturday.
The Joint Awami Action Committee reported more than 30 deaths near Rawalakot in clashes with security forces, a toll Pakistani authorities denied.
Opposition PTI boycotted the election over electoral fraud concerns, while the PPP accused the PML-N of vote rigging — accusations the PML-N rejected.
- Who
- Pakistan's ruling Pakistan Muslim League (N) (PML-N), the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the boycotting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and voters in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
- What
- Regional assembly elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, marred by deadly clashes and postponed voting, with the PML-N poised to win a majority.
- Where
- Pakistan-administered Kashmir, including the protest hubs of Rawalakot and Sudhnoti.
- When
- Elections scheduled in three rounds between late July and August 10, with voting postponed in seven constituencies and a rerun set for Saturday; the report was filed on August 12.
- Why
- The PML-N looks set to win a majority while protesters demand the abolition of 12 reserved refugee seats and opposition parties dispute the vote's fairness, leaving the incoming government facing deep political and security challenges.
Protesters and opposition parties
Pakistani authorities and ruling PML-N
Death toll and clashes
Protesters and opposition parties
The Joint Awami Action Committee says more than 30 people were killed near Rawalakot in clashes with security forces within two days.
Pakistani authorities and ruling PML-N
Pakistani authorities deny the death toll and characterise the protesters as India-backed militants.
Reserved refugee seats
Protesters and opposition parties
Protesters say the 12 reserved refugee seats are too often filled by people living elsewhere in Pakistan with little regard for the region's economic struggles, and they want the seats abolished.
Pakistani authorities and ruling PML-N
The 12 seats are mandated by the regional constitution, and the PML-N has benefited from the rule, largely winning those seats; analysts say its likely majority depends on them.
Election fairness
Protesters and opposition parties
The PPP accuses the PML-N of vote rigging, and the PTI boycotted the election over electoral fraud concerns.
Pakistani authorities and ruling PML-N
The PML-N rejects the accusations, and local election commission official Raja Shakeel says there were no major irregularities in the voting process.
Key facts
- Assembly size
- 53 seats
- PML-N seats secured
- 25 as of Wednesday
- PPP seats secured
- 12
- Postponed constituencies
- 7, date yet to be determined
- Rerun polling stations
- 23 in two constituencies, scheduled for Saturday
- Reserved refugee seats
- 12, largely won by the PML-N
- Reported deaths near Rawalakot
- More than 30 in two days (per Joint Awami Action Committee; denied by authorities)
- Election rounds
- Three, scheduled between late July and August 10
Quotes
Hasan‑Askari Rizvi
Political analyst
“The region will remain at boiling point.”
theprint.in
Sources
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