Sources consulted vary on the 30 June 1996 election results for the 48-seat (Reuters 1 July 1996) Legislative Assembly in Azad Kashmir.

According to the attached 1 July 1996 Agence France Presse (AFP) report, the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) won 24 of the 40 seats contested, PPP allies and the Muslim Conference each won four, the Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) got one while independents took two. However, at the time the article was published, results for four constituencies had not been received and a new vote was to be held in another constituency (ibid.).

According to a 1 July 1996 Reuters report, by the evening of 1 July 1996, results for only 32 seats had been announced, out of which the PPP won 22, its allies took two, the Muslim Conference won five, and independents won three seats. However, complete results had not yet been gathered for one constituency, another was to hold a new vote, and results for six constituencies were being withheld due to possible election irregularities (ibid.).

According to a 30 July 1996 Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) report, however, the PPP won 31 of the seats contested. The DPA report does not provide information on the final standings of the other parties.

On 30 July 1996 Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry of the PPP was sworn-in as Azad Kashmir prime minister and Mumtaz Hussain Rathore, also of the PPP, was elected Speaker of the Assembly (DPA 30 July 1996).

Additional or more specific information on the election results in Azad Kashmir could not be found among the sources consulted by the DIRB.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 1 July 1996. "Bhutto Party Takes Control in Pakistan Kashmir." (NEXIS)

Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 30 July 1996. BC Cycle. "Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry New Prime Minister of Pakistani Kashmir." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 1 July 1996. BC Cycle. "Bhutto's Party Sweeps Pakistani Kashmir Election." (NEXIS)

Agence France Presse (AFP). 1 July 1996. "Bhutto Party Takes Control in Pakistan Kashmir." (NEXIS)

Deutsche Presse-Agentur. 30 July 1996. BC Cycle. "Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry New Prime Minister of Pakistani Kashmir." (NEXIS)

Japan Economic Newswire [Tokyo]. 30 June 1996. "Elections started Sunday morning in Azad Kashmir... ." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 1 July 1996. BC Cycle. "Bhutto's Party Sweeps Pakistani Kashmir Election." (NEXIS)

Asian Survey [Berkeley, Calif.]. Monthly. June 1995-February 1996.

Asiaweek [Hong Kong]. Weekly. July-September 1995.

Current History [Philadelphia]. Monthly. September-December 1995.

DIRB "Pakistan" country file. June-October 1995.

The Herald [Karachi]. Monthly. July-September 1995.

Internet search.

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. Monthly. June-November 1995.

SHARENet database.