PML-N Six Seats Short of AJK Govt, Says Sanaullah Before Phase 3

Rana Sanaullah says his party needs just six more votes for a two-thirds majority in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. He said this Saturday, speaking to a public rally in Bagh, right before the third phase of AJK elections.

The PML-N has already bagged 24 seats after the first two rounds of voting, with the PPP trailing at 10. Sanaullah is confident his party will sweep all four seats up for grabs on August 10.

“The Pakistan Muslim League-N has the strength of 30 members , 24 elected members and six on reserved seats,” he told the crowd. “Only six more votes are required for a two-thirds majority. You have to add these four on the 10th.”

Poonch division goes to the polls next, with 11 constituencies spread across Bagh, Haveli, Poonch and Sudhnoti. Under the revised schedule from the AJK Election Commission, though, only Bagh and Haveli will vote on August 10 , Poonch and Sudhnoti have been pushed back, with new dates still to be announced.

Sanaullah didn’t stop at seat numbers. He also took a swipe at PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who has been claiming for days now that the countdown has started for PML-N’s government at the Centre.

“Those counting down will themselves be straightened out, and so will their count,” Sanaullah shot back.

Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam, who was present at the rally, backed up the claim , saying PML-N would form the AJK government with a two-thirds majority once the final votes are counted.

Sanaullah also talked about what comes after the win. He said his party’s first priority, once government is formed, will be sitting down with the Joint Awami Action Committee to sort out the issues it has raised.

“Pakistan is incomplete without Kashmir. Kashmir is Pakistan and Pakistan is Kashmir,” he said, calling the region Pakistan’s “jugular vein.”

Meanwhile, the AJK chief election commissioner said Saturday that once the sit-in situation is resolved, new polling dates for the postponed districts would be worked out.

The 45-member AJK Legislative Assembly election has already seen its share of controversy , the PPP has accused PML-N of rigging in earlier phases, though it has since scaled back those claims after being asked for proof. PML-N has rejected the allegations outright, calling the process free and fair.