RAWALPINDI: Unlike the 2013 general and the 2015 local government elections, the Rawalpindi district is set to witness a major contest between the PML-N and the PPP in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections to be held on July 21.

In the AJK legislative assembly, three constituencies reserved for the Valley and Jammu fall in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad and the Rawalpindi division and six constituencies in different districts of Punjab, including Lahore.

After partition of the subcontinent, Kashmiris mostly migrated to Pakistan and settled in different cities of Punjab and other provinces. To give them representation in the AJK legislative assembly, the constituencies were formed in different cities.

The AJK legislative assembly constituency Jammu VI falls in Rawalpindi and Islamabad as well as Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 3,400 registered voters. The Kashmir Valley IV, comprising the Rawalpindi city Union council 15 to 50 with 3,600 votes, and the Kashmir Valley V - Rawalpindi city Union Council 1 to 14, Islamabad capital territory, Rawalpindi cantonment and Attock district - has 6,200 votes.

In the 2013 general elections, the PTI challenged the PML-N and managed to grab two seats of National Assembly and four seats of provincial assembly from Rawalpindi. The PPP remained third as its candidates did not get more than 4,000 votes in any constituency of the city.

Polling to be held for three seats of AJK legislative assembly in Rawalpindi district on July 21

In the 2015 local government elections, the PTI and the PML-N again emerged as the main constants. However, the PML-N swept the elections with the PTI losing almost all the seats in the city except two UCs.

However, for the AJK elections, PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has activated his party to challenge the PML-N.

The PTI, which recently appeared as the main political rival of the PML-N, is facing internal rivalries and its AJK chapter is divided in two groups.

Former PTI Azad Kashmir president Dr Lutfur Rehman has formed Kashmir Tehreek-i-Insaf in protest against the entry of Barrister Sultan Mehmood in the party. “PTI assigned has given a task to two MPAs from Rawalpindi to convince the disgruntled workers to come back. MPA Arif Abbasi has been in Azad Kashmir for two days to complete the task,” a senior PTI leader told Dawn.

He said it would be difficult for the PTI to get maximum seats in the legislative assembly due to internal rifts. In the constituencies falling in Punjab, the party cannot win the polls absence of the party organisations.

“So far, the PTI has failed to organise a single corner meeting in any of the constituencies. In Rawalpindi, PTI workers are still annoyed with the local leadership for their differences with each other,” he said.

But PTI local leader Raja Tariq Meboob Kiyani said the AJK elections were always won by the ruling party in the Punjab and the centre.

“Police and the administration have always rigged the polls and it has become a popular phrase that police cast votes before the arrival of the voters in the polling stations.” Based on record, one can safely say that the ruling party in Islamabad would win the elections, he added.

PML-N former MNA Hanif Abbasi was hopeful that the ruling party would win all the seats of Jammu and Valley from Punjab. He expressed the hope that the people of AJK would vote for the PML-N for its good governance and highlighting the issue of Kashmir in the world.

“We have never been involved in unfair means in Punjab and other areas for winning elections. All political parties are free to launch their election campaigns. The PML-N leadership believes in hard work for the betterment of the citizens but others always work to collect money.”

The main contender of the ruling PML-N, the PPP is facing internal issues. In the absence of party organisations in Punjab, the PPP candidates are facing problems in carrying out their election campaigns.

“Zardari House Islamabad is controlling even small affairs such as the assignment of workers in polling camps. Faryal Talpur is managing all the things,” a senior party leader said.

He said there were chances of rigging in elections as the party local leaders and office-bearers failed to verify the voters’ lists and other arrangements.

Interestingly, in Rawalpindi city, PPP leader Azhar Gillani’s uncle Syed Ishtiaq is contesting for the Kashmir Valley VI seat on the PTI ticket. PML-N’s Azad Aleem Shah is son of former MLA Shah Ghulam Qadir and nephew of late PPP leader Agha Riazul Islam.

In this constituency, PPP Union Council chairman Raja Aurangzeb is also contesting as an independent candidate after his party allotted the ticket to Azhar Gillani.

For Kashmir Valley V, PPP’s Abdul Islam Butt is facing his own son Nasir Islam Butt who is in the arena as independent candidate. However, Abdul Islam Butt told Dawn that his son was his covering candidate and would withdraw from the race.

Published in Dawn, July 9th, 2016