Khawaja Asif says PML-N set to form next AJK govt, calls turnout ‘encouraging’

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Sunday expressed confidence that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would form the next government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), saying the polling process was peaceful and turnout was encouraging.

Talking to the media during a visit to election camps in Union Council Fatehgarh, Sialkot, Asif said the polling process across the valley and the relevant constituencies was continuing in a calm and orderly atmosphere.

He said the response from voters at election camps was highly encouraging, adding that reports received from the camps indicated a positive trend and that voter turnout was expected to increase further as the day progressed.

Asif expressed optimism that PML-N would emerge victorious and form next government in AJK, enabling it to contribute to the region’s development and stability under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s longstanding position on Kashmir, Asif said, “Kashmir will become Pakistan” remains the country’s fundamental national stance.

Referring to the vision of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, he said “Kashmir is Pakistan’s jugular vein” and maintained that there was no room for any alternative solution.

The defence minister expressed regret that some elements were strengthening the Indian lobby by spreading negative propaganda.

Talking about the importance of Sialkot, Asif said that Sialkot was the stronghold of refugees of Jammu, where there were approximately 100,000 voters in this constituency (LA-36, Jammu-III).

The minister stressed that regardless of the outcome, all political parties should accept and respect the mandate of the people.

Later, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah rejected allegations of rigging and violence levelled by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) during the second phase of the AJK elections, saying voters had peacefully exercised their right to vote across polling stations.

He was speaking at a press conference in Islamabad alongside Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam.

Sanaullah said polling time had been extended by one hour at certain locations due to difficult weather conditions. He added that, under the rules, voters who had already reached polling stations before the closing time would be allowed to cast their votes even after 6pm.

He said, according to the latest information, around 95 to 96 per cent of the polling process had been completed across polling stations, and the counting process had started.

“Throughout the day, people exercised their right to vote in a very peaceful environment in AJK and in Pakistan where elections were held on migrant seats,” he said.

Rejecting allegations of rigging, he said a political party had started claiming that the election was being manipulated from early in the day.

“That party started saying at 10:30am that rigging was taking place,” he said, adding that allegations against the electoral process were being made without evidence.

Read: Vote counting underway as polling ends in second phase of AJK elections amid rigging claims

Discussing the reported incidents of violence during polling, Sanaullah said only three incidents had taken place during the day.

Referring to an incident involving AJK President Chaudhry Latif Akbar, he said Akbar had visited a polling station to cast his vote as he was also contesting the election.

“He had a dispute with a Saadat family due to a court case, and there was a verbal exchange with them. There was no physical altercation or fight, but it has been presented as an attempted murder,” he said.

The adviser also mentioned another incident involving an elderly man, Mushtaq, who died during the day. He said the area had one community divided into two groups, with supporters of both the PML-N and PPP.

He said an altercation and exchange of abusive remarks took place between the groups, and alleged that Mushtaq was pushed by his nephew Shokat Shah. However, he said the elderly man did not die because of the incident and suffered a heart attack as he was a cardiac patient.

Sanaullah criticised claims that a party worker had been killed and firing had taken place, saying such allegations were being made without a post-mortem report.

Meanwhile, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said PML-N voters had turned out with “full enthusiasm and vigour” and cast their votes for the party’s election symbol, the lion, in the AJK and refugee seats.

In a post on X, Tarar said allegations of rigging without evidence were merely “political mudslinging”. He added that people were aware of the PML-N’s focus on service, development and its manifesto.

He said PML-N leaders Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had always prioritised the construction and development of Kashmir.