MUZAFFARABAD: Unofficial initial results have started emerging after polling concluded for the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections in four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli districts in Poonch Division on Monday.
Polling for the four constituencies began at 8am and continued smoothly until 5pm, according to election officials.
In LA-14 Bagh-1, unofficial results from 182 of 214 polling stations showed Awami Dast-o-Bazu candidate Sajid Iqbal leading with 34,692 votes, while Muslim Conference’s Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan was in second place with 16,443 votes.
In LA-15 Bagh-2, unofficial results from four of 213 polling stations showed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmed Minhas ahead with 349 votes, followed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Zia Qamar with 179 votes.
In LA-16 Bagh-3, unofficial results from 84 of 186 polling stations showed PML-N’s Sardar Mir Akbar Khan leading with 9,243 votes, while PPP’s Sardar Qamar Zaman Khan was second with 7,144 votes.
In LA-17 Bagh-4, unofficial results from two of 199 polling stations showed PML-N candidate Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz in the lead with 443 votes, followed by PPP’s Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore with 344 votes.
Earlier, AJK Chief Election Commissioner said around 460,000 voters were eligible to cast their ballots in the four constituencies.
He said security arrangements had been finalised across all constituencies to ensure a smooth polling process.
Meanwhile, elections for five seats in Poonch district and two seats in Sudhnoti district have been postponed. Final results will be announced by the election authorities after completion of the counting process.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has emerged as the leading party in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections after the completion of the first two phases, securing 24 seats so far.
In the first phase of polling, the PML-N won nine of the 13 seats in the Mirpur division, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured four seats.
During the second phase, voters cast ballots for nine seats in the Muzaffarabad division and 12 seats reserved for refugees. The PML-N won 15 seats, while the PPP secured six seats.
With 24 seats from the first two phases, the PML-N has established a strong position in the AJK Assembly, while the PPP has won 10 seats.
