- PML-N maintains commanding lead in second-phase polls.
- PPP rejects election process, alleges widespread rigging.
- PML-N dismisses allegations, says Bilawal is misinformed.
MUZAFFARABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerged as the leading party in the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, securing 14 of the 20 contested seats, according to unofficial and unconfirmed results.
The second phase of polling was held on Sunday across 20 constituencies, comprising eight seats in Muzaffarabad Division and 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled in Pakistan.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured five seats, according to unofficial results received so far.
In Neelum Valley, PML-N’s Shah Ghulam Qadir won LA-25 Neelum-I with 19,201 votes, defeating PPP’s Mian Abdul Waheed, who secured 13,596 votes. Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) AJK chapter President Tanveer Ilyas received 3,348 votes in the constituency.
PPP’s Mian Abdul Waheed won LA-26 Neelum-II with 16,524 votes, while PML-N’s Khawaja Fayyaz finished runner-up with 15,494 votes.
In Muzaffarabad Division, PML-N’s Mustafa Bashir Abbasi won LA-30 Muzaffarabad-IV with 17,749 votes against PPP’s Mubashir Munir Awan, who secured 11,947 votes.
Former AJK prime minister Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider retained LA-32 Muzaffarabad-VI for PML-N with 21,156 votes, defeating PPP’s Sahibzada Muhammad Ashfaq Zafar, who polled 19,010 votes.
PPP’s Diwan Ali Khan Qamar Chughtai clinched LA-33 Muzaffarabad-VII with 25,469 votes, while PML-N’s Mian Muhammad Rashid secured 21,175 votes.
Among the refugee constituencies, PML-N’s Nasir Hussain Dar won LA-34 Jammu-I with 5,682 votes, ahead of independent candidate Raja Riaz Ahmed, who received 2,124 votes.
PML-N’s Chaudhry Muhammad Ismail secured LA-35 Jammu-II with 23,893 votes, defeating independent candidate Sardar Muhammad Ghayas, who obtained 5,868 votes.
In LA-36 Jammu-III, PML-N’s Muhammad Ahsan Raza garnered 27,218 votes against PPP’s Ahsan Ismail, who secured 12,980 votes.
PML-N’s Maryam Javed won LA-37 Jammu-IV with 28,664 votes, while Jammu Kashmir United Movement candidate Usman Aleem polled 22,827 votes.
PML-N’s Raja Muhammad Siddique secured victory in LA-39 Jammu-VI with 10,981 votes, defeating PPP’s Chaudhry Fakhar Zaman, who received 5,081 votes.
PPP’s Amir Abdul Ghaffar won LA-40 Kashmir Valley-I with 2,914 votes, while IPP candidate Muhammad Saleem Butt secured 136 votes.
In LA-41 Kashmir Valley-II, PML-N’s Muhammad Amir Shah won with 1,804 votes against independent candidate Saba Diwan’s 1,523 votes.
PML-N’s Syed Shaukat Ali Shah secured LA-42 Kashmir Valley-III with 1,524 votes, defeating PPP’s Muhammad Asim Sharif, who received 477 votes.
PPP’s Javed Butt won LA-43 Kashmir Valley-IV, securing 563 votes.
In LA-44 Kashmir Valley-V, PML-N’s Muhammad Ahmad Raza Qadri won with 2,308 votes, while All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (AJKMC) candidate Mehr-un-Nisa received 740 votes.
PPP’s Abdul Majeed Khan secured LA-45 Kashmir Valley-VI with 3,448 votes, defeating AJKMC candidate Khawaja Muhammad Dilawar, who polled 823 votes.
Meanwhile, the returning officer issued notifications for successful candidates in both Neelum Valley constituencies.
Qadir was officially declared elected from LA-25 Neelum-I with 19,201 votes, while Mian Abdul Waheed was notified as the returned candidate from LA-26 Neelum-II after securing 16,524 votes.
Election authorities continued consolidating results and issuing notifications as the counting process concluded in the declared constituencies.
PPP alleges rigging
The PPP alleged that the second phase of polling was marred by rigging and rejected the electoral process. Senior party leader Raja Pervez Ashraf termed the mandate “fake” and said elections that were neither free nor fair would not be accepted.
He accused the AJK Election Commission of failing to address complaints and alleged that acting AJK President Chaudhry Latif Akbar was assaulted by PML-N supporters.
Ashraf also questioned polling arrangements in certain constituencies and held the AJK’s chief election commissioner responsible for the situation.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari separately condemned the killing of party worker Mushtaq Shah in LA-31 and expressed condolences to the bereaved family.
PML-N rejects allegations
PML-N leaders dismissed allegations of rigging and denied claims that PPP’s Akbar and MNA Salahuddin Junejo were attacked during polling.
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said the PPP began alleging rigging while voting was still underway and claimed Bilawal had been misinformed.
He maintained that only three incidents were reported during polling across the AJK.
Sanaullah said a local dispute occurred when Akbar arrived to cast his vote and alleged that Junejo’s presence at a polling station in LA-31 contributed to another incident, urging the PPP chairman to seek an explanation from his party colleague.
