Massive rigging, violence mark Azad Kashmir polls

Ever since 1970, when the people of Azad Kashmir were granted the right to vote on the basis of adult franchise, the cabinet in Muzaffarabad has been a mirror image of the ruling clique in Islamabad. History has repeated itself again in the 2011 elections. The ruling Pakistan Peoples party and other major parties have succeeded in duping the people of Azad Kashmir once again. The June 26th polls held across Azad Kashmir, and in cities like Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Lahore, were marred by widespread rigging and violence. It left at least three persons dead. PPP emerged the winner by securing 20 of the 41 seats. The Opposition PML-N was in second position with 9 seats and the Muslim Conference was third with five seats. However, there were widespread allegations against the Chief Election Commissioner for holding the worst-ever polls.