'Countdown Begins': Bilawal warns federal govt as PPP alleges rigging in AJK polls

Islamabad (Web Desk): Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has declared that the federal government's tenure is entering its final phase, saying the "countdown has begun" after his party won fewer seats in what it insists were manipulated elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The PPP is a key coalition partner in the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led federal government, but tensions between the allies intensified during the AJK polls as the PPP repeatedly accused authorities of electoral rigging.

According to Prime Minister's Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, the PML-N has obtained a simple majority in the AJK Legislative Assembly by winning 23 out of the 45 seats, giving it the numbers required to establish the next regional government.

In a video statement, Bilawal addressed the PML-N leadership, saying, "My friends in the PML-N, can you hear that sound? The countdown for the federal government has now started."

وفاقی حکومت کی الٹی گنتی شروع ہوچکی ہے، چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا ویڈیو پیغام

پونچھ والوں! میں آرہا ہوں، آپ تیاری کریں، چیئرمین بلاول بھٹو زرداری کا ویڈیو پیغام، ضلع باغ میں جلسے کا اعلان

یہ صاف و شفاف انتخابات نہیں تھے، یہ دھاندلی الیکشن تھے، یہ گولی الیکشن تھے، یہ قاتل… pic.twitter.com/HfgcYzLgtt

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) August 3, 2026

He also announced a public meeting in Bagh district and urged PPP supporters in Poonch to prepare for the gathering scheduled for August 10. "Poonch, I am coming. Get ready," he told party workers.

Bilawal rejected the credibility of the election, claiming the process was neither transparent nor impartial. He described it as a rigged exercise and went on to label it a "bullet election", a "murderous election" and a "bloody election".

Despite raising objections over the conduct of the polls, the PPP chairman congratulated party workers for their efforts, saying they had managed to win nine seats under difficult circumstances.

He also pledged to continue the party's struggle to recover what he claimed were seats taken away from the PPP in Mirpur and Muzaffarabad, insisting that the party would not abandon its campaign.

"The Pakistan Peoples Party never gives up. We do not lose courage, we do not retreat, and we never leave the political field," Bilawal said.

His remarks came shortly after senior PPP leader and Sindh Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon issued a similar warning to the ruling coalition.

Criticising the PML-N leadership, Memon alleged that the ruling party had received assistance from the Election Commission, claiming its candidates were provided ballot papers two days before polling.
He further alleged that even the complaints submitted by the sitting president and prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir were ignored by the administration.

Calling the election one of the worst examples of electoral manipulation, Memon claimed the AJK polls were marred by unprecedented rigging. Referring to the disputed 2024 general elections, he questioned whether PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had legitimately won their respective seats.