The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is leading in two constituencies while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is ahead in one seat after the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, according to unofficial and unverified results.
An independent candidate also secured a major upset by defeating former AJK prime minister and Muslim Conference president Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan in his home constituency.
Polling for the third phase was held in four constituencies across Bagh and Haveli districts of Poonch Division.
PPP leads in Bagh-2
In LA-15 Bagh-2, unofficial results from 203 of 213 polling stations showed PPP candidate Zia Qamar leading with 16,696 votes.
PML-N candidate Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmed Minhas was in second place with 15,099 votes.
PML-N ahead in Eastern Bagh
In LA-16 Eastern Bagh, PML-N candidate Sardar Mir Akbar Khan was leading against PPP candidate Sardar Qamar Zaman Khan.
The constituency was the only one among the four where the PML-N appeared poised to secure a victory, based on the unofficial results available.
AJK PM leads in Haveli-Kahuta
In the closely contested LA-17 Haveli-Kahuta constituency, incumbent AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore was leading against PML-N candidate Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz.
The constituency has also become the centre of a dispute over the counting process, with the PML-N candidate demanding a recount.
Major upset for Sardar Attique
A major upset was reported in LA-14 Western Bagh, where independent candidate Sardar Sajid Iqbal Abbasi defeated former AJK prime minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan in the latter’s home constituency.
According to unofficial results, Sajid Iqbal secured 40,702 votes, while Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan received 19,542 votes.
The result represents a significant setback for the veteran politician in his traditional stronghold.
PML-N demands recount in LA-17
Meanwhile, a sit-in by PML-N workers continued outside the Returning Officer’s office over a demand for recounting in LA-17 Bagh-4.
PML-N candidate Mohsin Aziz submitted a request for a recount, but the Returning Officer reportedly rejected the application.
Aziz said the protest and sit-in would continue until the votes were recounted.
Third Phase of AJK Elections Begins in Bagh and Haveli
PPP alleges election irregularities
The PPP has rejected the results of the recent AJK elections and alleged widespread rigging, electoral irregularities, disruptions in polling and serious law-and-order violations.
PPP Senators Palwasha Khan, Shahlah Raza and Sharmila Faruqui described the elections as “the darkest blot” on Kashmir’s electoral history and called for an impartial review of complaints by the Election Commission.
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman also raised concerns about delayed polling and alleged restrictions on PPP polling agents at several polling stations.
She called for the lost polling time to be compensated and voters to be given a full opportunity to cast their ballots.
PML-N rejects rigging narrative
PML-N leader and Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah urged protest groups to end their sit-in while polling continued.
Sanaullah said the government would review legitimate demands raised by protesters, while those taking up arms or acting as “tools of the enemy” would face the law.
He also accused the PPP of using allegations of rigging to mask its electoral defeat, although he acknowledged that the party’s allegations were “not as intense as before”.
PML-N seeks two-thirds majority
Elections for five seats in Poonch district and two seats in Sudhnoti district have been postponed.
The first two phases of the AJK elections gave the PML-N a strong lead. The party won nine of 13 seats in the Mirpur division during the first phase, while the PPP secured four.
In the second phase, the PML-N won 15 seats, while the PPP secured six.
As a result, the PML-N has secured 24 seats in the first two phases, compared with 10 seats for the PPP.
Rana Sanaullah said on August 8 that the PML-N needed six more seats to secure a two-thirds majority in AJK.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, however, rejected the PML-N’s confidence about forming the government in AJK and claimed that its government in Islamabad was also facing risks.
