PML-N poised to grab lion’s share in AJK

RAWALPINDI: People receive ballot papers from election officials as they wait to cast their votes at a polling station in Millat Colony, during the second phase of elections to the AJK Legislative Assembly.—Online

• Initial tally shows ‘N’ leading second phase of elections• PPP set to win two refugee, two territorial seats; alleges widespread rigging• Polling in two constituencies postponed till tomorrow• Sporadic violence hits AJK capital• Bilawal says PML-N ‘crossed all limits’, accuses party of using violence• Azma eyes victory, says voters ‘deeply impressed’ by Maryam’s performance as CM MUZAFFARABAD: The PML-N appeared in a comfortable position to consolidate its lead over the PPP in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly after unofficial results from the AJK polls’ second phase showed it ahead in most contests, including the refugee seats spread across Pakistan. By late Sunday night, the Election Commission had officially notified results of five refugee constituencies, four of which were won by the PML-N and one by the PPP. Unofficial and unverified results from the remaining constituencies, however, suggested the PML-N had secured victory in 10 of the 12 refugee constituencies and at least two of the seven territorial constituencies where the polling had concluded. The PPP was said to have won two territorial constituencies and two refugee seats. Polling was originally scheduled in nine territorial constituencies — five in Muzaffarabad district and two each in Neelum and Jhelum Valley districts — besides all 12 refugee constituencies. However, the Election Commission deferred polling in LA-27, Muzaffarabad-I (Kutla) until Tuesday after polling staff and election material could not reach the constituency because of landslides and bad weather that blocked the Neelum Valley road and its link roads. Polling at 71 of the 174 polling stations in LA-28 Muzaffarabad-II (Lachhrat) was also postponed until Tuesday for the same reason. Voting in the remaining polling stations of the constituency was held as scheduled. However, due to a delay in the arrival of polling staff and election material, polling was affected at several locations. Consequently, the Election Commission extended polling by one hour in the territorial constituencies, while polling in the refugee constituencies ended at the scheduled time of 5pm.

A person walks past closed shops at a market, during the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, in Muzaffarabad on August 2. — Reuters

Sporadic clashes In parts of Muzaffarabad city, attempts were reportedly made to disrupt polling in some neighbourhoods, but voting continued in most areas. In LA-31, Muzaffa­rabad-V (Khawra), clashes between workers of the PML-N and PPP were reported in Union Council Katkair. The PPP alleged that one of its workers, Syed Mushtaq Shah, was killed in an attack by PML-N supporters. The PML-N rejected the allegation, claiming the man suffered a cardiac arrest following a scuffle between two groups. There was no independent confirmation of either claim. PPP candidate and Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar also wrote to the AJK chief election commissioner, alleging security lapses, firing incidents, interference in polling, prevention of polling agents from entering polling stations and denial of voting rights. He also claimed there had been an attempt on his life in which Advocate Syed Mumtaz Hussain Naqvi was injured, and called for an investigation and legal action against those responsible. There was no immediate response from the Election Commission. Clashes between workers of the two major parties, some involving the use of firearms, were also reported from different areas, though no casualties were immediately reported. “This is the first time I am casting my vote. It’s a new experience and I am excited,” said Syeda Warisha, a 22-year-old student, while waiting in a queue outside the Saheli Sarkar polling station in Muzaffarabad. PML-N leads polls Late at night, the AJK CEC announced official results of five refugee constituencies. PML-N candidates Muhammad Amir Shah (LA-41, Valley-II), Syed Shoukat Shah (LA-42, Valley-III), Mohammad Yasin Lone (LA-43, Valley-IV) and Ahmad Raza Qadri (LA-44, Valley-V) were declared successful, while PPP’s Abdul Majid Khan won LA-45 (Valley-VI), where PML-N had not fielded a candidate. Unofficial and unverified results suggested that the PPP had also won LA-40 (Valley-I) where it had fielded Amir Abdul Ghaffar Lone, while the PML-N swept all six Jammu refugee constituencies through Nasir Hussain Dar, Chaudhry Ismail, Sahibzada Ahsan Raza, Maryam Javed, Zeeshan Ali and Raja Muhammad Siddique. Among the territorial constituencies, unofficial results indicated that PML-N regional president Shah Ghulam Qadir was ahead with a narrow margin in LA-25 (Neelum-I), while the PPP’s Mian Abdul Waheed was leading in LA-26 (Neelum-II). In LA-29 (Muzaffarabad-III), PPP’s Sardar Mukhtar Abbasi was reported to have defeated PML-N’s Barrister Iftikhar Gillani by nearly 2,000 votes. PML-N candidate Raja Saqib Majeed was said to have defeated PPP’s Chaudhry Latif Akbar in LA-31 (Khawra), while Dr Mustafa Bashir Abbasi of the PML-N reportedly defeated PPP’s Mubashar Munir Awan in LA-30 (Muzaffarabad-IV). In LA-33 (Leepa), PPP’s Deevan Ali Chughtai was reported to have defeated PML-N’s Chaudhry Muhammad Rasheed. Former prime minister Raja Farooq Haider and PPP’s Sahibzada Ashfaq Zaffar were in a neck-and-neck contest for LA-32 (Muzaffarabad-VI), while in LA-28 (Lachhrat), where polling could not be held at all polling stations, PML-N’s Chaudhry Shahzad Mahmood was reportedly leading the race against PPP’s Syed Bazil Ali Naqvi. Refugee seats The Kashmiris voted for their candidates vying for refugee seats at polling stations set up in Chakwal, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Sargodha, Attock, Nawabshah, Hyderabad, Mohmand, Mansehra, Quetta, Dera Ghazi Khan, Peshawar, Sanghar, and Naushahro Feroze. Polling in these areas largely remained peaceful and recorded a low turnout. In Mohmand, not a single voter turned up at a station set up for the AJK polls. In Dera Ghazi Khan, a single registered female voter cast her ballot at the Govt Elementary School in Maumori, where a polling station had been established just for her. Out of 12 refugee seats, seven seats are in Punjab, one seat is in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one seat (Jammu-VI) is divided between Pun­jab, Islamabad, and Khyber Pakhtun­khwa, one seat is divided between Sindh and Balo­chistan (Valley-I), and one seat (Jammu-I) is shared among refugees living in Balochistan, Punjab, and Sindh. Valley-V seat is divided between Punjab and Islamabad. Rigging allegations In continuation of its criticism of the PML-N over the AJK polls, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari accused his ruling partner of “robbing” the mandate. “The PML-N is robbing the votes of the people of Azad Kashmir through bullets, batons and coercion,” he alleged. In a post on X, he condemned an “attack” on the party’s regional president, Chaudhry Latif Akbar — also the candidate for LA-31 (Muzaffarabad-V). Accu­sing “miscreant elements of the PML-N” of being behind the incident, Bilawal said PPP worker Mushtaq Shah was killed in the same constituency. He demanded that those responsible for the attack on Akbar and the “murderers” of the party worker be arrested.

In a separate statement, Bilawal said, “The PML-N has crossed all limits. Attacks are taking place on our voters and the president of the state (AJK).” The PPP shared a complaint written to the Election Commission regar­ding a “physical assault” on Akbar. Chaudhry Akbar also wrote two letters to the ECP about the assault and the death of the party worker. PPP leader Nayyar Hussain Bokhari claimed that eight party workers had been injured in the ongoing elections so far. Mr Bokhari contended there was a “state of lawlessness” in AJK. Similar allegations were levelled by PPP leaders Nadeem Afzal Chan and Punjab MPA Hassan Murtaza in separate media talks. Mr Chan said the PPP election cell received 15 complaints, which were submitted to the AJK Election Commission. “We have provided the government with clear evidence of rigging but the PML-N has not responded to the PPP’s concerns, he claimed. “The PPP cannot declare these elections free and fair,” he added. Azma eyes victory Earlier in the day, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari stated that the PML-N would secure a massive victory. Sharing videos of the peaceful polling process, the provincial minister remarked that the public, deeply impressed by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s governance, was enthusiastically voting for the ‘Lion’ – the PML-N’s electoral symbol. Taking a jibe at political opponents, she claimed that the “whining party” was nowhere to be seen on the election day. “Those who always cry foul over rigging will keep screaming, while the masses will continue to ensure the PML-N’s success,” she stated. Reflecting on the election campaign, Ms Bokhari noted the overwhelming public reception the party had received. She highlighted that the successful campaign of the PML-N candidates was a testament to their impending victory. With input from Amjad Mahmood, Syed Irfan Raza, Hamid Asghar, Tariq Saeed Birmani, Aslam Piracha, Sajjad Niazi, Zulfiqar Memon, Saleem Shahid, Mohammad Ashfaq and Nisar Ahmad Khan Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2026