The PML-N grabbed nine out of the 13 constituencies of Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) Mirpur division in yesterday’s elections, preliminary results issued by the Election Commission showed on Tuesday.Polls in AJK are being held in three phases over security concerns, with the first set of polls held in Mirpur division on Monday. Scuffles, violence and allegations of rigging had marred the polling process, with the PML-N and PPP accusing each other of electoral malpractice.

According to preliminary results issued by the AJK Election Commission (Forms-26 and Forms-27), the PML-N emerged as the winner in nine constituencies, while the PPP could secure only four seats. Following an intense election campaign by both the parties in the lead-up to the polls, the PML-N emerged victorious in Dadyal, Khari Sharif, Barnala, Samahni, Bhimber, Nakyal, Sehnsa, Charhoi and Khuiratta. Meanwhile, the PPP secured the key city of Mirpur, two seats in Kotli and another in Chakswari. 

In LA-1 (Mirpur-I), PML-N’s Azhar Sadiq was successful with 15,427 votes, while his opponent Muhammad Afzal Shahid trailed with 9,832 votes, Form-27 results issued by the Election Commission showed. The LA-5 (Mirpur-I) seat saw a close contest between PML-N’s Waqar Ahmed Noor and PPP’s Chaudhry Pervaiz Ashraf. The former won with a margin of 721 votes as 29,821 ballots were cast in his favour, and Ashraf trailed with 29,100 votes. 

In LA-7 (Bhimber-III), PML-N’s Tariq Farooq won with a comfortable margin, securing 37,613 votes, while former AJK PM Chaudhry Anwarul Haq was the runner-up with 25,534 votes. The second and third phases of the elections are scheduled for August 2 and August 10 in nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division and all 12 refugee constituencies, and 11 constituencies of Poonch division, respectively.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)