Scuffles, violence, and rigging allegations marked the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections across 13 constituencies of Mirpur division, where preliminary results issued by the Election Commission show that Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) won nine out of 13 constituencies, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured four seats.
Authorities scheduled the AJK elections in three phases due to security concerns.
According to preliminary results issued through Forms-26 and Forms-27, the PML-N won seats in Dadyal, Khari Sharif, Barnala, Samahni, Bhimber, Nakyal, Sehnsa, Charhoi, and Khuiratta.
The PPP won the city of Mirpur, two seats in Kotli, and the seat in Chakswari.
In LA-1 (Mirpur-I), PML-N candidate Azhar Sadiq won with 15,427 votes against opponent Muhammad Afzal Shahid, who received 9,832 votes.
In LA-5 (Mirpur-I), PML-N candidate Waqar Ahmed Noor won against PPP candidate Chaudhry Pervaiz Ashraf by a margin of 721 votes, receiving 29,821 votes to Ashraf’s 29,100 votes.
In LA-7 (Bhimber-III), PML-N candidate Tariq Farooq won with 37,613 votes against former AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, who received 25,534 votes.
In Mirpur district, Chaudhry Rukhsar won in Khari Sharif, while PPP candidate Yasir Sultan won in Mirpur city. Incumbent PPP Finance Minister Qasim Majeed retained the Chakswari seat.
Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal termed the elections “the most difficult” in the history of Azad Jammu and Kashmir due to factors that “everyone is aware of.”
Mughal stated that political parties often misrepresent isolated incidents by blowing incidents out of proportion without investigating them.
Mughal confirmed that security personnel arrested a presiding officer and an attached patwari in Kotli after locating the individuals inside a private residence with election materials. Officials recovered the material and deployed fresh personnel.
Mughal noted that disturbances halted polling in a Raj Mahal constituency, while a political worker died in Nakyal.
A total of 288 candidates contested the 13 seats across 2,316 polling stations. Authorities designated 1,241 stations as highly sensitive and 724 as sensitive. Voting ran from 8am to 6pm following a one-hour extension.
Voter turnout remained low during the morning in Mirpur city. Polling officials attributed the low morning numbers to weather conditions and holiday schedules.
“Firstly, it’s hot and humid, and secondly, many urban voters wake up late on a holiday,” a polling agent said. Turnout picked up in rural areas later in the day.
Violent clashes erupted during the afternoon in LA-9 Kotli-II (Nakyal). The PPP stated on X that rival supporters killed party worker Mukhtar Younus during “incidents of display of arms and public harassment.”
Mirpur Commissioner Raja Tahir Mumtaz confirmed that firing killed one man and injured two others, including the father of the deceased worker.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari condemned the casualty while addressing party workers in Muzaffarabad.
“My worker has been martyred in Mirpur’s Nakyal. Where are the relevant authorities? What is the Election Commission doing,” Bhutto-Zardari asked.
He demanded transparency in the remaining electoral process. “We all want to bring stability back to AJK; the first step towards bringing stability is to ensure free and fair elections,” Bhutto-Zardari said, adding that controversies already affected the process, including unresolved issues regarding refugee constituencies.
Commissioner Mumtaz stated that supporters of Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party candidate Ali Shan Soni snatched ballot boxes from a polling station in LA-6 (Samahni). Video footage showed armed men firing weapons during the incident.
During a press conference in Islamabad, PPP Information Secretary Nadeem Afzal Chan accused PML-N candidates of ballot stuffing and rigging in Kotli.
The Tehreek-i-Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan alliance released a statement declaring that the electoral process failed to inspire “public confidence.”
The PTI issued a statement reiterating the boycott of the election on grounds that current conditions prevent free and transparent polling. The party stated that low turnout reflected “discontent” and claimed the PML-N and PPP prioritized power-sharing over public grievances, adding that elections lacking transparency cannot strengthen democracy or reflect the true public mandate.
The second phase of the elections takes place on August 2 across nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division and all 12 refugee constituencies, while the third phase takes place on August 10 across 11 constituencies of Poonch division.
