Coalition politics in Pakistan often hides its fractures beneath a veneer of unity, but the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections have exposed one such rift in public view. On Saturday, senior leaders from the PML-N and PPP met for the third time in three days, trying to contain a dispute over alleged rigging that has already drawn sharp accusations from both sides. The talks, held in Muzaffarabad, come after the first phase of AJK polls saw the PML-N secure nine of the 13 constituencies in Mirpur division, a result the PPP contests. The PPP has demanded re-polling in four constituencies, accusing the PML-N of electoral manipulation. The exchanges have escalated to the point where PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari warned of a "countdown" for the federal government if the alleged theft of the mandate is not addressed. Main Developments Saturday's session brought together key figures from both parties. The PML-N delegation included Prime Minister's Adviser Rana Sanaullah, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam, and Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, secretary general of the party's AJK chapter. On the PPP side were former Senate chairman Nayyar Bokhari, former federal minister Qamar Zaman Kaira, and AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, who also serves as the party's AJK secretary general. Nadeem Afzal Chan, who attended Friday's meeting, was absent. Read also: 205 Lives Lost in July: 4 Key Takeaways from PICSS Report The discussions focused on the PPP's rigging allegations and its demand for re-polling in specific constituencies. PML-N leaders told their counterparts that neither the government nor any institution had facilitated or backed rigging. They described any irregularities as localised incidents, not part of an organised plan. A source quoted them saying: "It was not planned or pre-planned rigging but isolated acts at places where supporters of one candidate enjoyed numerical dominance over their opponents." The PPP initially raised objections in four constituencies: Charhoi, Sehnsa and Nakyal in Kotli district, and Barnala in Bhimber district. Later, it withdrew allegations regarding Sehnsa and Barnala. Saturday's talks centred on Charhoi, where PPP AJK president Chaudhry Yasin lost to the PML-N's Raja Riasat, and Nakyal, where PPP candidate Javed Iqbal Budhanvi was defeated by the PML-N's Raja Ayaz Ahmed. Both sides reviewed security arrangements ahead of the second phase of polling on Sunday. They agreed that the Election Commission and divisional and district administrations should ensure "extraordinary security measures" so voters could exercise their franchise freely. The meeting also discussed addressing complaints through both political dialogue and legal channels. PML-N leaders presented a detailed analysis of the results, showing that while their candidates had secured more than 80 per cent of the votes at some polling stations, the PPP had also won more than 80 per cent at others. "If any irregularities occurred, they occurred on both sides, and a mechanism has been discussed to address them, legally and politically," said a PML-N leader. Background The war of words began after the first phase of AJK elections concluded, with the PML-N emerging as the frontrunner. The PPP, a coalition partner in the Centre, accused the PML-N of rigging in Mirpur division. Earlier this week, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz hailed the PML-N's "outstanding victory" and urged the PPP to accept defeat. She said, "The PPP should have accepted its defeat by affirming the spirit of democracy, but I felt aggrieved by the kind of words used by PPP leaders." PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari escalated tensions on Thursday by warning that a stolen election in AJK would start a "countdown" for the federal government. "If you steal [the election] … write it down, take my guarantee, that a countdown will start for your federal government," he said, adding, "If you steal my mandate, I will come for your throne." The two parties have a history of contentious relations, even as they cooperate in the federal coalition. The AJK elections, held in two phases, are seen as a test of their alliance. The first phase covered 13 constituencies in Mirpur division, while the second phase is scheduled for Sunday. Why It Matters The dispute is not merely about AJK's regional politics; it carries significant implications for the stability of the federal coalition. If the PPP feels its mandate was stolen, it could strain the partnership with the PML-N, potentially affecting legislative cooperation in the Centre. The AJK election outcome also holds symbolic weight, as it reflects the parties' organisational strength in a territory with deep emotional ties to Pakistan. The PPP's demand for re-polling and the PML-N's insistence on the legitimacy of results could set a precedent for how electoral disputes are handled in the country. The PML-N's argument that irregularities are "isolated acts" rather than organised rigging may be scr