PML-N Leads AJK Elections Amid Major Upsets and Allegations

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has emerged as the leading party in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) general elections, currently holding 24 of the 45 assembly seats. Prime Minister's Adviser Rana Sanaullah claimed the party secured a simple majority to form the next government following the first two phases of voting.

Third-phase results have introduced significant volatility. In the LA-14 Bagh 1 constituency, Muslim Conference chief Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan suffered a major upset in his hometown, losing to Sajid Iqbal of the Jammu & Kashmir Awami Dast-o-Bazu party, who received 40,702 votes to Khan's 19,542. Meanwhile, unofficial results from the LA-15 Bagh-II constituency show Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Zia-ul-Qamar leading with 17,025 votes over PML-N candidate Mushtaq Minhas, who has 15,063 votes.

The Election Commission of Azad Kashmir postponed voting in the Poonch and Sudhanoti districts due to security concerns, while polling proceeded in Bagh and Haveli. Amid these developments, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has challenged the legitimacy of the process, alleging widespread irregularities and stating the elections were neither free nor fair.