MUZAFFARABAD, Aug. 11 (Alliance News): The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) was leading in two of the four constituencies contested during the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was ahead in one constituency and an independent candidate secured victory in another, according to unofficial and unconfirmed results.
Polling in the third phase was held in four constituencies across Bagh and Haveli districts of the Poonch Division.
According to unofficial results from 203 of the 213 polling stations in LA-15 Bagh-2, PPP candidate Zia Qamar was leading with 16,696 votes, while PML-N candidate Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmed Minhas had secured 15,099 votes.
In LA-16 Eastern Bagh, PML-N candidate Sardar Mir Akbar Khan was leading against PPP’s Sardar Qamar Zaman Khan, making it the only constituency among the four where the ruling party appeared set to win.
In LA-17 Haveli-Kahuta, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, contesting on a PPP ticket, was leading over PML-N candidate Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz in a closely fought contest.
A major political upset was witnessed in LA-14 Western Bagh, where independent candidate Sardar Sajid Iqbal Abbasi, backed by Awami Dast-o-Bazu, defeated former AJK prime minister and Muslim Conference President Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan in his traditional political stronghold.
According to unofficial results, Sajid Iqbal Abbasi secured 40,702 votes, while Attique Ahmed Khan received 19,542 votes.
Polling for five constituencies in Poonch district and two constituencies in Sudhnoti district has been postponed.
PML-N demands recount
Meanwhile, PML-N workers continued their sit-in outside the Returning Officer’s (RO) Office, demanding a recount of votes in LA-17 Bagh-4.
PML-N candidate Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz submitted a request for recounting, which was rejected by the Returning Officer.
Aziz said the protest would continue until the votes were recounted.
PPP alleges rigging
The Pakistan Peoples Party rejected the election results, alleging widespread rigging, electoral irregularities and disruption of the polling process.
Addressing a press conference, PPP leaders Senator Palwasha Khan, Shahlah Raza and Sharmila Faruqui termed the elections “the darkest blot” on Kashmir’s electoral history and urged the Election Commission to conduct an impartial investigation into all complaints.
Earlier on polling day, PPP Senator Sherry Rehman expressed concern over delays in polling in LA-15 and LA-16 and alleged that PPP polling agents were denied entry to polling stations 119 and 120, raising questions about transparency.
PML-N rejects allegations
Responding to the allegations, Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah said the PPP was attempting to hide its electoral defeat through allegations of rigging, although he acknowledged that the party’s claims were “not as intense as before.”
He urged political parties to pursue legal and constitutional channels to address any genuine complaints.
PML-N retains overall lead
The PML-N continues to dominate the overall election results.
In the first phase, the party won nine of 13 seats in the Mirpur Division, while the PPP secured four.
During the second phase, the PML-N won 15 seats, while the PPP secured six.
Based on unofficial results from the first two phases, the PML-N has secured 24 seats, while the PPP has won 10 seats.
Earlier, Rana Sanaullah said the PML-N required only six more seats to secure a two-thirds majority in the AJK Legislative Assembly.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, however, maintained that his party remained confident of forming the next government in Azad Kashmir.
