Political Clashes Lead to Death and Injuries in Pakistan‑Occupied Kashmir Vote

During the first stage of voting in POK on Monday, a series of armed confrontations left one activist dead and several others wounded. The deceased, Mukhtar Yunus, was a PPP worker from the Kotli district who was shot while observing the ballot count. The PPP alleges that the gunfire came from PML‑N supporters, while the latter party charges the PPP with inciting violence and manipulating election results. Local government minister Saeed Ghani, speaking at a joint press conference, accused PML‑N of instigating the turmoil. The Election Commission has declared a public holiday to encourage voter turnout, but the violence has cast a shadow over the legitimacy of the process, especially after an unnamed official suggested that the final outcomes may already be pre‑determined by the Pakistani army.