MUZAFFARABAD, 13 July 2006 — The ruling All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference emerged as the single majority party in Kashmir winning the most seats in legislative elections, but several Cabinet ministers were defeated, officials said yesterday.
The election results reflect the mood of the earthquake-hit Kashmiris who chose to reject the extremist parties like Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal and other hard-line groups. The All Jammu and Kashmir Conference had fielded 40 candidates and has won by majority.
The Pakistan People’s Party, which ruled Azad Kashmir in the past, had fielded 36 candidates and only seven of its candidates returned.
Karachi’s Muttahida Qaumi Movement secured only one seat from Karachi.
The MMA that had fielded 33 candidates got no seats and cried foul saying the elections were rigged. They accused the Sindh and Punjab governments of masterminding the rigging. Newly-formed People’s Muslim League led by former Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Sultan Mahmud got four seats. It had the support of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (Q).
AJK Muslim Conference is expected to replace its leader of the house Sardar Sikandar Hayat by Sardar Attique Khan, son of former President of Azad Kashmir Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan.
The next administration, while largely subordinate to Pakistan’s national government, will face the challenge of rebuilding the devastated region.
The ruling Muslim Conference won 20 of the 41 contested constituencies, said Mohammed Naseem Sheikh, the chief election commissioner of Pakistan-held Kashmir, citing unofficial results from polling stations. The commission still has to verify the results, which are to be officially announced today, he said.
