PML-N leading in AJK second phase polls

KARACHI: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) tightened its grip on the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections on Sunday, securing victory in 10 of the 12 constituencies for which unofficial and provisional results have been completed, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won three seats.

The latest unofficial and provisional results showed that PML-N candidate Raja Muhammad Siddique won the LA-39 Jammu-6 constituency after votes in all polling stations across the constituency were fully counted.

Siddique secured 10,981 votes, defeating PPP candidate Chaudhry Fakhar Zaman, who finished second with 5,081 votes.

READ ALSO: PPP protests ‘election irregularities’ in AJK

With the addition of LA-39, the PML-N’s tally rose to 10 seats, while the PPP secured two of the 12 constituencies for which complete unofficial results have been announced.

The polling process, originally scheduled from 8am to 5pm, was extended by an hour to 6pm to facilitate voters across nine constituencies in the Muzaffarabad division.

The AJK Election Commission said in a statement that the decision was taken in view of the large number of voters arriving at polling stations and to facilitate them in exercising their right to vote.

Similar to the first phase, the PPP alleged that the latest round of polling was marred by rigging.

Voting took place in nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division — five in Muzaffarabad district, two in Jhelum Valley, and two in Neelum — with 207 candidates contesting.

Simultaneously, polling was held in all 12 refugee constituencies, including six seats reserved for refugees from the Kashmir Valley and six for refugees from the Jammu region. A total of 137 candidates are in the race for these refugee seats.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026