Political tensions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s LA-17 Haveli constituency escalated on Wednesday after several vehicles were vandalised in the village of Hoter, with some affected individuals alleging that their passports and cash were also taken.
According to local sources, the incident occurred outside the residence of Zahid Hashmi, a senior Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and president of the International Kashmir Peace Forum Europe (IKPF).
Local sources alleged that workers affiliated with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and an independent candidate attacked people gathered outside Hashmi’s residence. The allegations have not been independently verified.
Several vehicles parked along the roadside were damaged during the incident, with their windows smashed, according to residents and those affected.
Some of the vehicles reportedly belonged to people who had travelled from Saudi Arabia to cast their votes in the closely contested constituency. They alleged that passports and cash were taken from their vehicles during the disturbance.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions in LA-17 Haveli-Kahuta following a closely fought election and a dispute over its result.
PML-N candidate Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz has challenged the declared result, alleging electoral manipulation and seeking a recount after PPP candidate and AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore was declared victorious.
The AJK elections have been conducted in phases, with earlier rounds covering Mirpur and Muzaffarabad divisions and constituencies reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled in Pakistan.