As polling ended in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Information Secretary Maryam Aurangzeb expressed confidence that her party was heading for another victory in Muzaffarabad after winning in Mirpur, saying voters had once again backed the party’s “lion” election symbol, the private media outlet reported.
In a statement on Sunday, Aurangzeb criticised the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), saying political parties win elections by campaigning effectively and securing votes, not by making allegations or filing complaints.
She said the opposition’s reaction to the Mirpur result showed it could not accept defeat and urged its leaders to focus on bringing voters to polling stations instead of “crying.”
“Without votes and voters, you cannot win an election,” she said, adding that threats, protests and allegations of rigging could not substitute for public support.
Aurangzeb claimed that, like Mirpur, voters in Muzaffarabad had turned out in support of the PML-N and said the public’s confidence in the party was evident during polling.
She also said the people of AJK had reaffirmed their trust in Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
Aurangzeb added that the party had received encouraging reports from camps set up for refugee seats, while its political opponents were “lamenting” their expected defeat.
“The voter comes out after judging performance and stamps the ballot accordingly,” she said, adding that the Mirpur election had already reflected public opinion.
She further claimed that voting trends in Muzaffarabad also indicated a PML-N victory and said the party had completed preparations for the final phase of the AJK elections, including polling in Poonch.
Aurangzeb expressed confidence that the PML-N’s “lion” election symbol would also secure victory in the final phase of the AJK elections.
