Hung legislature likely in AJK

Internal rifts within the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over tickets distribution coupled with the political isolation being faced by the Muslim Conference (MC) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) are likely to result in a hung legislature in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Furthermore, a tough competition is expected in 10 out of 41 seats of the AJK Legislative Assembly. Meanwhile, three main political parties the contesting elections in AJK have accused the PPP of using state resources in the election campaign. As electioneering has intensified in the AJK, the internal rifts among major political entities are becoming more and more visible and likely to affect the results with no party able to gain a clear majority.
Around six PPP workers have submitted their nomination papers as independent candidates after they were denied party tickets, which would certainly damage the PPP position in those constituencies while benefiting the PML-N. “Though, the PPP is making hectic efforts to bring the estranged workers back to the fold, but chances of rapprochement are very remote,” Naveed Bidawani, a PPP candidate contesting AJK polls said, adding that the PML-N too was facing similar dissention in four of its strongholds which would benefit the PPP.
A tough contest is expected in 10 seats of the AJK Legislative Assembly, which included the constituencies of prominent Kashmiri leaders like Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, Raja Farooq Haider Khan, Barrister Sultan Mehmood, Sardar Yaqoob, Sardar Khalid Ibrahim and Chaudhry Majeed. Meanwhile, the MC and the MQM have failed to make any seat adjustment or alliance in the polls. When contacted, MQM Zonal Chief Zahid Malik cited ideological differences as the reason.
“The political interests of the two parties are poles apart in Sindh, particularly Karachi. The PPP is hell-bent to deprive the MQM of LA 30-Jammu, from where MQM’s candidate Tahir Khokhar had won the last elections. He also disclosed that the PPP had asked his party not to field its candidate for the said constituency and it would adjust the MQM in the government after the elections,” Zahid remarked.
Similarly, MC President Sardar Attique has also been levelling allegations of pre-poll rigging against the PPP for the last two weeks and also wrote a letter to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani on the subject. His claims are seconded by the PML-N, which the ministers are using state resources in the election campaign. The MC has faced major setbacks as many of its prominent leaders have deserted the party during the last month and joined the PML-N.
But the observers believe that it would only manage to get five to seven seats in the AJK polls.