In a post on social media, Maryam Nawaz criticized the PPP, writing: “The masterminds of sophisticated election rigging are now crying foul over rigging. What time is Doomsday?”

Her remarks came in response to the PPP s objections regarding the results of the first phase of the AJK elections.

The exchange has further intensified the political confrontation between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the PPP, with both parties accusing each other of undermining the credibility of the electoral process.

Earlier, PPP Central Punjab General Secretary Hassan Murtaza, during a press conference in Lahore, strongly criticized the conduct of the AJK elections. He alleged that the election code of conduct was repeatedly violated and claimed that the Election Commission appeared to favor a particular political party instead of fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities.

Murtaza asserted that the PPP was treated unfairly during the elections and alleged that efforts were made to influence the results. According to him, the elections were not conducted in a free, fair, or impartial environment, which he said had undermined public confidence in the electoral process.

He also criticized the PML-N leadership, stating that if the party enjoys political relevance in Azad Kashmir today, it is partly due to the political struggle of the PPP. Referring to former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Murtaza said he respects Sharif s political services but claimed that the current leadership surrounding him has damaged his political standing.

The PPP leader also questioned the performance of the Punjab government, saying that recent heavy rains had submerged thousands of acres of agricultural land, causing significant financial losses for farmers. He argued that the situation was the result of poor planning and administrative negligence rather than a natural disaster.

Commenting on Lahore s infrastructure, Murtaza said the government s claims of turning the city into a model of development do not match reality, noting that several roads become inundated after only a few hours of rainfall, creating serious difficulties for residents.

He further criticized the government s handling of the economy, claiming that neglect of the agricultural sector has forced Pakistan to import wheat on a large scale while citizens continue to struggle with inflation and inadequate public services.

Earlier, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had also alleged rigging in the first phase of the AJK elections, stressing that the electoral process must be completely transparent to ensure respect for the public s vote.

Meanwhile, the PML-N has categorically rejected all allegations made by the PPP, maintaining that the elections were conducted in accordance with constitutional and legal requirements and that the people delivered their verdict through the ballot box. Party leaders said that rejecting election results through what they described as baseless allegations goes against democratic norms.

The verbal sparring between the country s two major political parties has intensified following the AJK elections, with the election results and allegations of rigging remaining a major topic of political debate.