The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has emerged as the frontrunner in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly general elections, securing seven seats out of the constituencies where unofficial results have been announced. The initial results from the Mirpur Division indicate a strong performance by the ruling party, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured three seats. Vote counting is still underway in a few remaining constituencies.
According to the unofficial results, PPP candidate Qasim Majeed won LA-2 Mirpur-II with 12,904 votes, defeating PML-N’s Azeem Bakhsh Chaudhry, who received 8,182 votes. PPP also claimed LA-3 Mirpur-III, where Chaudhry Yasir Sultan defeated PML-N’s Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed.
Despite PPP’s victories, PML-N dominated Mirpur Division by winning LA-1 Mirpur-I, where Azhar Sadiq secured 15,427 votes, and LA-4 Mirpur-IV, where Rukhsar Ahmed defeated PPP’s candidate with 20,172 votes.
In Bhimber, PML-N maintained its momentum. Waqar Ahmed Noor narrowly won LA-5 Bhimber-I, while Chaudhry Tariq Farooq comfortably secured LA-7 Bhimber-III, defeating independent candidate Chaudhry Anwarul Haq.
The party also performed strongly in Kotli, winning LA-9 Kotli-II, LA-11 Kotli-IV, and LA-13 Kotli-VI through Umair Niazi, Muhammad Asif, and Raja Ayaz Ahmed Khan, respectively. Meanwhile, PPP managed to secure LA-8 Kotli-I, where Zafar Iqbal Malik emerged victorious.
Polling across the Mirpur Division remained largely peaceful, with security personnel ensuring smooth voting despite a few isolated incidents. Election officials reported encouraging voter turnout, reflecting strong public participation in the democratic process.
The remaining unofficial results from pending constituencies are expected to determine the final political balance in the first phase before the next rounds of polling in Muzaffarabad and Poonch divisions.
