3rd phase of AJK elections: PML-N poised for gains in Poonch amid rigging allegations

The PML-N appeared set to gain at least one seat in Poonch division, where four constituencies went to the polls on Monday amid allegations of rigging, violence and disruption, with polling suspended at some places. The biggest upset was the defeat of Muslim Conference president Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan in LA-14 (Dhirkot), a constituency from where he, and before him his uncle and father, had been elected in all nine elections since 1985. His defeat also appeared to underscore the political decline of what was once the largest and longest-ruling party in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), but was reduced to a marginal force following the emergence of the PML-N in 2010. Khan was defeated by…