Imran's PTI seeks army chief's intervention on pre-poll rigging in PoK

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in an unprecedented move has sought Army Chief General Raheel Sharif's intervention in investigating the 'pre-poll rigging' claims in the recently held in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) polls it faced a rout at the hands of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's party last month swept to victory in PoK elections, claiming as many as 31 seats in the legislative assembly against the PTI's two seats.

PTI chief Imran Khan had then accepted the results after the polls.

The party now issuing a white paper on the alleged 'irregularities and pre-planned rigging' has demanded a re-election in the territory and installation of an interim government.

"I have written a letter to Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sharif on the issue as rigging in the AJK (PoK) elections will adversely impact the ongoing freedom movement in Indian-held Kashmir," the Express Tribune quoted PTI's PoK chapter president Barrister Sultan Mahmood, as saying.

Sultan said that days before the polls, the government issued a notification calling for establishment of a cell under the control of the PoK Council for implementation of developmental schemes, rather than asking a local government department.

"The party ruling in the Centre usually wins the AJK elections. The core reason behind the victory is that the federal government appointed the inspector general of police and AJK's (PoK) chief secretary, who manage elections in favour of the ruling party," he added.

He insisted that interim government having representation of all political parties should be installed in PoK and the general elections should be held in 2018 along with the rest of the country.