PPP Will Win If AJK Elections Are Free and Fair, Says Nadeem Afzal Chan

LAHORE: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Nadeem Afzal Chan has said that his party will emerge victorious in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections if the electoral process remains free, fair, and transparent.

Addressing a joint press conference alongside PPP leader Saeed Ghani, Chan stressed that transparent elections are essential and expressed concern over alleged attempts to disrupt the voting process.

“Today is an important day for the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Since the morning, obstacles have been created in the electoral process,” he said, adding that one PPP worker had been killed and three others injured. He called on security forces to arrest those responsible for disrupting the elections.

Chan claimed that his party’s ground-level assessment indicates that one political party lacks public support and said the election results would reflect the people’s will if the administration remains impartial.

Criticizing the Punjab government’s handling of recent rains, he alleged that poor governance had led to a major crisis. He said that despite relatively moderate rainfall in Lahore, residents suffered significant losses, adding that large parts of Punjab were adversely affected by flooding.

The PPP leader also criticized the government’s wheat import policy, claiming that it plans to import one million tons of wheat while local farmers are struggling to sell their produce. He demanded a transparent investigation into the wheat import process and called for the identities of the companies involved to be made public.

Chan said the government is accountable for addressing public concerns related to inflation, employment, and economic management. He emphasized that decisions concerning national institutions and public assets must be made transparently and urged the government to focus on governance, fair elections, and resolving citizens’ problems instead of engaging in political confrontation.

He further called for the immediate resolution of flour and wheat supply issues in Azad Kashmir and demanded an inquiry into alleged irregularities and bribery in wheat transportation and distribution.

Speaking on the occasion, Saeed Ghani said that Sindh’s water rights would not be compromised and reiterated that water should be distributed among the provinces in accordance with the 1991 Water Apportionment Accord.

He also pointed to concerns regarding India and the implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty, warning that any disruption in Pakistan’s water supply would affect all provinces of the country.