Islamabad police receive 30 new vehicles after 14 …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Sunday said the party should consider rejecting the results of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections and boycott the third phase of polling, alleging widespread irregularities and electoral misconduct. Speaking at a press conference alongside PPP leader Sherry Rehman and other party members in Islamabad, the former prime minister clarified that the proposal reflected his personal opinion, adding that the final decision would be made by the party’s central leadership. Ashraf alleged that the elections were neither free, fair nor transparent, warning that such results would fail to gain public acceptance. He said political workers were well aware of constituencies where the party had strong support and accused the authorities of manipulating outcomes in areas where the PPP expected to perform well. Expressing disappointment over the second phase of the AJK elections, he said the PPP had already submitted documented evidence of irregularities during the first phase. He referred to one constituency where polling could not be held because election materials allegedly failed to reach polling stations. Ashraf questioned the explanation, saying election materials are normally delivered a day before polling and not on election day. He argued that such failures reflected serious administrative shortcomings. The PPP leader also alleged that party workers were assaulted and forcibly removed from polling stations during voting. He said the PPP had formed a joint committee with its coalition partner, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), after the first phase in the hope that the Election Commission would ensure greater vigilance during the second phase. However, he claimed that similar incidents were repeated despite those efforts. While acknowledging that the PML-N remains a coalition ally, Ashraf questioned the party’s role in the alleged irregularities. He asked whether such conduct was consistent with democratic values and said transparent elections were the Election Commission’s foremost constitutional responsibility. He further alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner had failed to take action on any major complaint and accused the Election Commission of acting under the influence of a political party. According to Ashraf, the overall conduct of the elections suggested that the process had been pre-planned. The former prime minister also alleged that current AJK Speaker and Acting President Chaudhry Latif Akbar was physically attacked by PML-N supporters. He claimed that Akbar was abused, assaulted and punched during the incident, criticising attempts to describe the episode as a mere verbal altercation. Ashraf further claimed that a long-time PPP worker was killed in the Khawra constituency and questioned the credibility of an electoral process in which, he alleged, violence had overshadowed voting. He also referred to the Kotli constituency, where polling reportedly could not be completed because election materials did not reach polling stations, saying it was the Election Commission’s responsibility to ensure timely delivery. He added that voting was also suspended at several polling stations in the constituency of Bazil Naqvi.

KARACHI: The forensic examination of a shirt belonging to Karachi youth Mir Raza has been completed. The report has been received by the police and is now being examined as part of the investigation. According to investigative sources, traces of hydrochloric acid were reportedly detected on the shirt during the chemical analysis. The sources also said that substances associated with a sedative were found in a blood sample taken from Mir Raza. The chemical examination was conducted to determine whether the shirt contained any material that could help investigators understand the circumstances surrounding the incident. The findings are expected to be considered along with other forensic evidence collected during the investigation. Investigators also reported the presence of gunshot residue (GSR) on the waist area of Mir Raza’s shirt. Sources said the concentration of GSR was higher around the waist section. They said this finding could provide investigators with important information about the direction and circumstances of the shooting. However, the forensic findings are expected to be assessed alongside other evidence before investigators reach any final conclusion. Police are also examining other aspects of the case to establish what happened. Meanwhile, further shortcomings in the investigation have reportedly emerged. Investigative officials said several important steps had not been completed despite days having passed since the incident. According to officials, geofencing of the crime scene has not yet been carried out. Geofencing could help investigators identify mobile devices that were present in or around the area at the relevant time. Officials also said that Mir Raza’s mobile phone data had not been obtained. The phone record could potentially help investigators establish his movements and identify contacts or activities around the time of the incident. Another issue raised by investigators concerns Mir Raza’s smartwatch. Officials said its forensic examination had also not been conducted. Such devices can sometimes contain information about movement, activity and other data that may assist an investigation. The latest findings have added new elements to the case. Investigators are now expected to examine the forensic report along with other available evidence. The police are also facing questions over why some investigative procedures were not carried out earlier. The family has previously called for a thorough investigation and answers about what happened to Mir Raza.