The second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections concluded on Wednesday after unofficial and unconfirmed results were announced for the two postponed constituencies in Muzaffarabad Division, with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) winning one seat each.
Polling in LA-27 Muzaffarabad-I and LA-28 Muzaffarabad-II was held on Tuesday after it was postponed on August 2 due to adverse weather conditions.
PML-N Wins LA-27, PPP Takes LA-28
According to unofficial and unconfirmed results from all 197 polling stations in LA-27 Muzaffarabad-I, PML-N candidate Noreen Arif secured victory with 18,919 votes.
Her closest rival, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) candidate Sardar Tabarak Ali, received 18,621 votes, resulting in a narrow margin of victory.
Meanwhile, in LA-28 Muzaffarabad-II, PPP candidate Bazil Ali Naqvi emerged victorious after obtaining 28,170 votes, according to unofficial results from all 174 polling stations.
PML-N candidate Chaudhry Shehzad finished second with 26,864 votes.
Second Phase Results Completed
With the announcement of results from the two delayed constituencies, the Election Commission has now completed results for all 21 seats contested during the second phase of the AJK elections.
The second phase included polling in 19 constituencies on August 2, comprising seven seats in Muzaffarabad Division and 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan. Voting in the remaining two constituencies was delayed because of unfavorable weather.
Following the latest results, the PML-N increased its tally to 15 seats, while the PPP secured six seats in the second phase of the elections.
Third Phase Scheduled for August 10
An AJK Election Commission spokesperson confirmed that polling in all constituencies of Poonch Division will be held as scheduled on August 10.
The commission urged voters not to pay attention to rumors regarding the election schedule and assured the public that any changes, if required, would be announced through official channels.
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Officials also encouraged eligible voters to exercise their democratic right by participating in the upcoming phase of polling.
PPP Alleges Irregularities in LA-27
Following the results, PPP leader Sherry Rehman alleged that election staff assigned to LA-27 had been found at the residence of a supporter of the PML-N along with ballot papers.
She claimed that videos showing the alleged incident had been submitted to the AJK Election Commission as evidence and called for an immediate administrative and legal investigation.
Rehman said the alleged irregularities raised serious questions about the transparency, impartiality, and credibility of the electoral process. She also demanded that those responsible for any attempt to influence the election be held accountable under the law.
PML-N Rejects Rigging Allegations
Responding to the allegations, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah rejected the PPP’s claims, describing them as part of a “disinformation campaign.”
Speaking to Geo News, Sanaullah said the video circulating on social media regarding LA-27 was “fake” and maintained that no complaints about polling staff had been received during voting.
He challenged the PPP to present any evidence before the Election Commission and questioned whether the party had submitted a formal complaint against any polling officials.
Sanaullah also accused the PPP of promoting a rigging narrative without substantiated evidence, insisting that any allegations should be examined through the legal and electoral process rather than political statements.
While both parties have presented opposing claims, the Election Commission has yet to issue any official findings regarding the allegations, and the announced constituency results remain unofficial and unconfirmed.
