LAHORE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday congratulated the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership and its winning candidates after the party emerged as the dominant force in the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, according to unofficial results.
The preliminary results showed PML-N securing 14 of the 18 declared seats, extending the lead it established during the first phase of polling. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), which is PML-N’s coalition partner at the Centre, won the remaining four seats and reiterated allegations of rigging, violence and electoral irregularities during Sunday’s voting.
AJK elections are being conducted in three phases due to security arrangements. The second phase covered seven constituencies in Muzaffarabad Division and 12 refugee seats reserved for migrants from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). The remaining 11 constituencies in Poonch Division will vote in the final phase.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz Sharif said the party’s continued electoral success was the outcome of the leadership of PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and the collective efforts of party workers.
He said the election results reflected the confidence of the people of AJK in PML-N’s policies and reaffirmed that the party remained committed to the region’s development, prosperity and public welfare.
The prime minister also praised the participation of political parties in the electoral process, saying it would further strengthen democratic traditions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Unofficial results of second phase
According to unofficial results announced by the Chief Election Commissioner:
PML-N winners
LA-25: Ghulam Qadir
LA-30: Mustafa Bashir Abbasi
LA-31: Saqib Majeed Khan
LA-32: Raja Farooq Haider Khan
LA-34: Nasir Dar
LA-35: Chaudhry Muhammad Ismail
LA-36: Muhammad Ahsan Raza
LA-37: Maryam Javed
LA-38: Zeeshah Ali
LA-39: Raja Muhammad Siddique Khan
LA-41: Muhammad Amir Shah
LA-42: Syed Shawkat Ali Shah
LA-43: Muhammad Yasin Lone
LA-44: Ahmad Raza Qadiri
PPP winners
LA-26: Mian Abdul Waheed Khan
LA-29: Sardar Mukhtar Ahmad Khan
LA-40: Amir Abdul Ghaffar Khan
LA-45: Abdul Majid Khan
Meanwhile, polling in LA-27 Muzaffarabad-I (Kutla) and at 71 polling stations in LA-28 Muzaffarabad-II (Lachhrat) was postponed until Tuesday after landslides and severe weather blocked roads, preventing election staff and polling materials from reaching the affected areas.
