Muzaffarabad (HRNW)- The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerged as the dominant party in the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, securing eight seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won one seat. The polling process was marred by violence in some constituencies, leaving one PPP worker dead and three others injured in separate firing incidents.
According to HRNW News, polling began at 8:00 am and was scheduled to conclude at 5:00 pm. However, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission extended voting by one hour in the Muzaffarabad Division due to the large voter turnout, allowing polling to continue until 6:00 pm.
More than 1.2 million registered voters were eligible to vote in the second phase. Elections were held for nine seats in Muzaffarabad Division and 12 refugee seats, with 208 candidates contesting the division’s seats and 143 candidates competing for refugee constituencies. A total of 1,483 polling stations were established under strict security arrangements.
According to unofficial results, the PML-N secured victories in LA-30, LA-38, LA-39, LA-41, LA-42, LA-43, LA-44, while its candidates also led in LA-34, LA-35, LA-36 and LA-37 during the counting process. The PPP secured victory in LA-40, while Abdul Waheed of the PPP led in LA-26.
Polling was disrupted in several constituencies due to clashes and allegations of irregularities. A PPP worker, Mushtaq Shah, was killed during a clash in LA-31, while PPP MNA Salahuddin Junejo sustained a gunshot wound to his arm during firing in the Khawara constituency. Two additional party workers were also injured and shifted to hospital.
The PPP alleged incidents of rigging and submitted complaints to the Election Commission, while polling in LA-29 was temporarily suspended following clashes between workers of the PPP and PML-N.
Polling in LA-27 Muzaffarabad-2 Lachhrat was postponed due to bad weather and landslides. According to the Election Commission, voting in the constituency will now be held on August 4.
In Rawalpindi Division, the PML-N celebrated victories in the refugee constituencies LA-43 and LA-44, with party workers distributing sweets following the announcement of unofficial results. Election officials also reported an unusual polling station in Rawalpindi’s FG Technical Public School No. 2 Tariqabad, where only three votes were cast, all in favor of the PML-N candidate.
Polling for the refugee constituencies LA-34 and LA-40 in Karachi concluded peacefully under tight security, with no untoward incidents reported.
Election authorities stated that final official results would be announced after the completion of vote counting in all constituencies.
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