PUK engages in election irregularities ahead of Kurdistan Region parliamentary polls
In recent days, several concerning reports have emerged indicating that the PUK has been involved in pressuring voters, including officers and civil servants, to cast their ballots in favor of the party.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) has come under scrutiny for allegedly engaging in suspicious activities ahead of the upcoming Kurdistan Region parliamentary elections, sources from Kurdistan24 have revealed.
In recent days, several concerning reports have emerged indicating that the PUK has been involved in pressuring voters, including officers and civil servants, to cast their ballots in favor of the party. The voters include members of the 70th Unit of the Peshmerga, police forces, defense units, and emergency brigades.
According to insider information, voting for the PUK has been conducted at the party’s headquarters under the guise of "tests." Officers, security personnel, and some PUK cadres have reportedly been coerced into voting for the party's list under significant pressure.
One specific incident, reported on Friday, involved members of the PUK’s 16th Brigade who allegedly organized a mock voting process, described as a "voting test." During this event, a number of individuals were brought in with voting machines and ballot boxes to participate in what was purportedly a rehearsal. However, it was later revealed that this test was, in fact, an actual voting process.
Further allegations point to the Garmiyan Police Directorate, whose members were transported in 10 buses to the PUK headquarters in Garmiyan under the same pretext of a voting test.
The PUK is also accused of attempting to buy votes by offering 50,000 Iraqi dinars in exchange for voters' cards. Reports suggest that pressure has been exerted on offices, private companies, and factories in Garmiyan to hand over their employees' voting cards, as well as those of their families, to PUK headquarters.
These allegations raise serious concerns about the integrity of the election process, with critics calling for greater oversight to ensure a fair and transparent vote. The Kurdistan Region's parliamentary elections are set to take place on Oct. 20, and these claims have already sparked significant controversy.