MUZAFFARABAD: The counting of votes is in progress following the conclusion of the first phase of polling in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections.
According to unofficial results, candidates of the Pakistan Muslim League‑Nawaz (PML‑N) are currently leading, with one PML‑N contender reported to have defeated former Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq.
Polling in the Mirpur division’s 13 constituencies was originally scheduled to end at 5 pm but was extended by an hour due to an extraordinary voter turnout.
In several constituencies across Mirpur, Bhimber, and Kotli, a close contest was witnessed among candidates from PML‑N, PPP, IPP, Jamaat‑e‑Islami, and independents. In total, 126 candidates contested across six constituencies.
Meanwhile, secretary Election Commission AJK Raja Shakeel told media that the polling process in Mirpur was “overall peaceful,” with only minor incidents reported. He added that few complaints were received and expressed hope that voter turnout would exceed 50 percent. Shakeel noted that results from polling stations are arriving continuously, but the complete counting process will take time.
The day’s developments followed a tense atmosphere marked by clashes in Nakyal, the suspension and arrest of presiding officers in Kotli, and allegations of rigging in LA‑10 Kotli by Prime Minister’s Advisor Rana Sanaullah.
Opposition parties, particularly the PPP, have repeatedly criticized the Election Commission for allegedly ignoring what they describe as political bribes by PML‑N, including the gifting of electric buses by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
Political observers emphasize that the real battle between PML‑N and PPP — allies in Pakistan’s federal government but rivals in AJK — continues to define the narrative of these elections, with each phase expected to intensify scrutiny of the process.
