Third phase of AJK elections: PPP leads on two Poonch seats, PML-N on one

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is leading on two of four constituencies in the Poonch division in the third phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections whereas the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is ahead on one, unofficial and unconfirmed results have shown.

According to the results, an independent candidate has secured the fourth seat.

By the filing of this report, in LA-15 Bagh-2, PPP’s Zia Qamar led with 16,696 votes against PML-N candidate Muhammad Mushtaq Ahmed Minhas, who had 15,099 votes, based on results from 203 of 213 polling stations.

PML-N candidate Sardar Mir Akbar Khan was in the lead against PPP’s Sardar Qamar Zaman Khan in LA-16 Eastern Bagh, the only constituency among the four where the PML-N appeared poised to win.

In LA-17 Haveli-Kahuta, incumbent AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore was leading against PML-N candidate Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz.

The independent candidate, Sardar Sajid Iqbal Abbasi, defeated former AJK prime minister and Muslim Conference president Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan in LA-14 Western Bagh, unofficial results showed.

Meanwhile, a sit-in by PML-N workers continued outside the Returning Officer’s (RO) office in LA-17 Bagh-4, where Mohsin Aziz has sought a recount.

The RO rejected the request, according to information available, while Aziz said the protest would continue until the votes were recounted.

On Monday, the PPP rejected the election results and alleged widespread rigging, polling disruptions, electoral irregularities and law-and-order violations. Senators Palwasha Khan, Shahlah Raza and Sharmila Faruqui called for an impartial review of complaints by the Election Commission while PPP’s Sherry Rehman also alleged delays in polling and restrictions on PPP polling agents at stations 119 and 120 in LA-15 and LA-16.

PML-N leader and Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah said the PPP was using allegations of rigging to mask its defeat, while acknowledging that the claims were “not as intense as before”.

He also said legitimate demands by protesters would be reviewed.

Meanwhile, polling in five Poonch constituencies and two in Sudhnoti was postponed.

Per the details of all earlier election phases, the PML-N won 24 seats in first two, compared with 10 for the PPP.

Sanaullah on Aug 8 said the PML-N needed six more seats for a two-thirds majority in the region.