ISLAMABAD: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday claimed the upper hand in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), saying it had won 23 out of a total 45 general seats in the Legislative Assembly, enough to form the next government, ahead of the final polling phase on August 10.
Speaking at a press conference alongside Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam, adviser to the prime minister on political affairs Rana Sanaullah said, citing unofficial election results, that the PML-N had emerged as the leading party and secured enough seats to form the next government.
He said the party won 13 seats during Sunday’s second phase of polling in the Muzaffarabad division, including four of the seven constituencies in Muzaffarabad city, while the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) secured three seats in the division.
He added that the PML-N also won 10 of the 12 seats reserved for refugees, with the PPP securing the remaining two.
He said polling in constituency LA-27 was postponed due to adverse weather conditions, while voting at 54 polling stations in LA-27 and LA-28 would be held on Tuesday (today).
He said the PML-N parliamentary party would convene a meeting after the third and final phase of elections on Aug 10 to discuss the formation of the next AJK government.
Unofficial and provisional results from Sunday’s second phase showed the PML-N winning 13 of the 18 constituencies announced so far, while the PPP, led by Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, secured five seats.
The election was marred by allegations of irregularities and incidents of violence, with the PPP claiming that its leaders were attacked during polling and that one of its workers was killed.
Rejecting the allegations, Sanaullah accused the PPP of colluding with the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) to disrupt the electoral process.
He alleged that the PPP, in coordination with JAAC, instigated unrest at a public square in Muzaffarabad, where gunfire was exchanged after police reached the scene.
According to Sanaullah, the death of a person during the incident created fear among voters, resulting in lower turnout and contributing to the PML-N’s defeat in one of the city constituencies.
The PML-N leader also accused the PPP of staging an alleged assassination attempt involving Chaudhry Latif Akbar, a PPP candidate.
He claimed that a confrontation involving punches and verbal exchanges was portrayed as an attack on Akbar’s life.
Sanaullah claimed Akbar declined to undergo a medical examination following the incident.
He further alleged that the PPP began levelling rigging allegations shortly after polling commenced after failing to secure favourable results in the first phase of the elections.
According to Sanaullah, the PPP initially raised objections regarding results in 13 constituencies, which were later reduced to four and eventually two after the party was asked to provide evidence.
“We even offered to conduct a forensic audit of the polling stations where rigging was alleged,” he said, maintaining that the polling process remained “free, fair and transparent” throughout election day.
He also alleged that attempts were made to influence voting in Akbar’s constituency, including efforts to deploy police personnel from Sindh province in AJK.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026