ISLAMABAD: The election in Muzaffarabad has reaffirmed that the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir place their trust in the democratic process and the ballot box as the legitimate means of political change.
The biggest victor of these elections is democracy itself, as voters exercised their constitutional right despite all attempts to create uncertainty, even violence and armed coercion by the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
Those, i.e proscribed JAAC, who opposed the electoral process have suffered a huge setback, while the mandate has gone to those who chose to participate through constitutional means.
Political differences are a natural part of any democracy. The noise and rhetoric around election results is unfortunately a long part of our political tradition. However, again it’s part of the process whereby those who think they are wronged have recourse to all legal remedies.
Democracy is that both victory and defeat are to be accepted with dignity; differences aside, the public has stamped that they reject violence and look towards democracy and law.
This must be respected by all, including those who, under the rhetoric and false promises of the proscribed JAAC, think otherwise. Since respect for the people’s verdict is the cornerstone of every constitutional system.
Kashmiri people have delivered a clear message that political disputes must be resolved through elections, not by disrupting the democratic process.
The election outcome underscores that public participation, constitutional politics, and peaceful democratic competition remain the only sustainable path forward. Kashmiris have rejected Indian articulated anarchy.
Polling for the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections ended on Sunday evening.
Voting took place in nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division — five in Muzaffarabad district, two in Jhelum Valley, and two in Neelum — with 207 candidates contesting.
Also Read: Polling Ends, Vote Counting Underway in Second Phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Elections
Simultaneously, polling was held in all 12 refugee constituencies, including six seats reserved for refugees from the Kashmir Valley and six for refugees from the Jammu region.
A total of 137 candidates are in the race for these refugee seats.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerged victorious in the first phase of polls held in Mirpur division on August 27, clinching nine seats while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured four of the 13 seats.
The third and final phase of the elections will be held in Poonch Division on August 10.
