The PML-N appeared set to strengthen its position against the PPP in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. Unofficial results from the second phase showed the ruling party leading in several key contests.
The results included refugee constituencies spread across different parts of Pakistan. Meanwhile, the Election Commission officially announced results for five refugee seats by late Sunday.
PML-N candidates won four of those seats, while the PPP secured one. However, unofficial results indicated a wider advantage for the PML-N across the remaining constituencies.
PML-N Leads Refugee Constituencies
According to unofficial and unverified results, the PML-N won 10 of the 12 refugee constituencies. It also secured at least two of the seven territorial seats where voting concluded.
Meanwhile, the PPP reportedly won two territorial constituencies and two refugee seats. However, the Election Commission had yet to formally confirm several of these results.
Polling originally covered nine territorial constituencies across Muzaffarabad, Neelum, and Jhelum Valley districts. Voters also cast ballots in all 12 refugee constituencies.
However, bad weather and landslides disrupted voting in some areas. Consequently, authorities postponed polling in LA-27, Muzaffarabad-I, until Tuesday.
Officials also postponed voting at 71 of 174 polling stations in LA-28, Muzaffarabad-II. Voters at the remaining stations cast ballots as scheduled.
Bad Weather Disrupts Voting
The delayed arrival of polling staff and election materials affected voting at several locations. Therefore, the Election Commission extended polling by one hour in territorial constituencies.
However, refugee constituencies closed at the scheduled 5pm deadline. Despite disruptions, voters continued casting ballots across most areas.
Attempts to disrupt polling reportedly occurred in some parts of Muzaffarabad. Moreover, clashes between PML-N and PPP workers occurred in Union Council Katkair.
The PPP alleged that its worker Syed Mushtaq Shah died after an attack by PML-N supporters. However, the PML-N rejected the claim.
The party said Shah suffered cardiac arrest following a scuffle between two groups. No independent source immediately confirmed either version.
PPP Raises Election Security Concerns
PPP candidate and AJK Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar raised concerns over election security. He wrote to the AJK chief election commissioner about several alleged irregularities.
Akbar alleged security failures, firing incidents, and interference during polling. He also claimed that officials prevented polling agents from entering stations.
Furthermore, he alleged that some voters faced restrictions while attempting to cast ballots. He also claimed an attempt targeted his life.
According to Akbar, Advocate Syed Mumtaz Hussain Naqvi suffered injuries during the alleged incident. He demanded an investigation and legal action against those responsible.
The Election Commission had not immediately responded to the allegations. Meanwhile, reports also emerged of clashes involving firearms in different areas.
PML-N Secures Several Refugee Seats
The AJK chief election commissioner officially announced results for five refugee constituencies late Sunday.
PML-N candidates Muhammad Amir Shah, Syed Shoukat Shah, Mohammad Yasin Lone, and Ahmad Raza Qadri won four seats. They secured LA-41, LA-42, LA-43, and LA-44 respectively.
Meanwhile, PPP candidate Abdul Majid Khan won LA-45, where the PML-N did not field a candidate.
Unofficial results also indicated a PPP victory in LA-40. Amir Abdul Ghaffar Lone reportedly secured that seat for the party.
The PML-N also swept all six Jammu refugee constituencies. Nasir Hussain Dar, Chaudhry Ismail, Sahibzada Ahsan Raza, Maryam Javed, Zeeshan Ali, and Raja Muhammad Siddique reportedly won those seats.
Territorial Seats See Close Contests
Several territorial constituencies witnessed closely fought contests between the two major parties.
PML-N regional president Shah Ghulam Qadir reportedly held a narrow lead in LA-25, Neelum-I. Meanwhile, PPP candidate Mian Abdul Waheed led in LA-26, Neelum-II.
In LA-29, PPP candidate Sardar Mukhtar Abbasi reportedly defeated PML-N’s Barrister Iftikhar Gillani by nearly 2,000 votes.
PML-N candidate Raja Saqib Majeed reportedly defeated PPP’s Chaudhry Latif Akbar in LA-31. Dr Mustafa Bashir Abbasi also reportedly defeated PPP’s Mubashar Munir Awan in LA-30.
In LA-33, PPP candidate Deevan Ali Chughtai reportedly defeated PML-N’s Chaudhry Muhammad Rasheed.
Former prime minister Raja Farooq Haider and PPP’s Sahibzada Ashfaq Zaffar remained locked in a close contest for LA-32. Meanwhile, PML-N’s Chaudhry Shahzad Mahmood reportedly led in LA-28.
Refugee Constituencies Record Low Turnout
Kashmiri voters cast ballots for refugee seats at polling stations across Pakistan. These stations operated in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Islamabad, and other regions.
Polling generally remained peaceful, although turnout remained low in several areas. In Mohmand, no voter reportedly visited a polling station established for the AJK elections.
Similarly, only one registered female voter cast her ballot at a polling station in Dera Ghazi Khan. Authorities had established the station specifically for her.
The 12 refugee seats cover different geographical areas across Pakistan. Seven seats fall within Punjab, while others cover Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, and Islamabad.
Bilawal Accuses PML-N of Election Rigging
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari strongly criticized the PML-N over the election process. He accused the party of attempting to undermine the PPP’s electoral mandate in AJK.
“The PML-N is robbing the votes of the people of Azad Kashmir through bullets, batons and coercion,” he alleged.
Bilawal also condemned an alleged attack involving PPP regional president Chaudhry Latif Akbar. He accused “miscreant elements of the PML-N” of involvement.
He also claimed that PPP worker Mushtaq Shah died in the same constituency. Bilawal demanded arrests over both incidents.
In another statement, Bilawal said, “The PML-N has crossed all limits. Attacks are taking place on our voters and the president of the state (AJK).”
PPP leaders also raised concerns about violence and alleged irregularities. Nayyar Hussain Bokhari claimed that eight PPP workers had suffered injuries during the elections.
Meanwhile, Nadeem Afzal Chan said the PPP election cell received 15 complaints. He said officials submitted those complaints to the AJK Election Commission.
“We have provided the government with clear evidence of rigging but the PML-N has not responded to the PPP’s concerns, he claimed. “The PPP cannot declare these elections free and fair,” he added.
PML-N Confident of Election Victory
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari expressed confidence in a major PML-N victory during the polling day. She shared videos showing voters participating in the election process.
Bokhari said voters appeared impressed by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s governance. She claimed that voters were enthusiastically supporting the PML-N’s election symbol, the Lion.
She also criticized the party’s political opponents over their rigging allegations. “Those who always cry foul over rigging will keep screaming, while the masses will continue to ensure the PML-N’s success,” she stated.
The second phase of the AJK elections therefore produced a competitive political contest. While unofficial results placed the PML-N ahead in several constituencies, the PPP continued to challenge the election process.
As the Election Commission completes the remaining results, the final seat tally will determine the balance of power in the AJK Legislative Assembly. Meanwhile, allegations of violence and electoral irregularities are likely to remain central to the political debate.
