The first phase of the legislative assembly elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) started under heavy military command and ended in violence: deadly political violence, allegations of vote rigging and widespread civil discontent. Nearly 3.8 million eligible voters across the territory are set to have a staggered three-phase electoral schedule, a decision taken early from election authorities after months of strong civil unrest, violent anti-establishment protests and stretched security resources.
The first round of voting, which took place mainly in Mirpur Division, including Bhimber, Kotli and Mirpur, was characterized by low voter turnout and a particularly low turnout in the afternoon in hot and humid conditions as people were turning out by indifference and fear. There was violence at the Kotli district’s Nakyal tehsil where a violent clash between political foes killed a 35-year-old worker of the PPP (Pakistan Peoples Party) Mukhtar Younus in the heat of battle and gunfire. The PPP leadership, led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, strongly condemned the killing and blamed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supporters and said the local election commission had not acted on the previous warning about armed violence.
In addition to the confusion in the Bhimber district, there were significant disruptions to voting stations. Witness accounts and official statements showed that rival political sides stormed a polling booth, took official ballot boxes and lit one on fire, destroying many votes in the box. Although 30 people were arrested for the arson, the situation only served to fuel widespread anger at what opposition claims that the state apparatus and partisans were going to try to manipulate the democratic process. The PPP and PML-N fought back against each other on vote tampering, intimidation and unlawful interference during the counting process.
The elections are taking place at the same time as a confrontation between the state and the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). The civil society alliance that has staged massive multi-week demonstrations demanding economic governance reforms and the removal of 12 controversial refugee assembly seats was banned by Islamabad in the wake of deadly clashes in recent months. When Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) withdrew from the polls, the JAAC said that security forces opened fire on civilians in Rawalakot, resulting in multiple casualties.
