Azad Kashmir Elections: PML-N leads in second phase, government formation position strengthened

In the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, the Muslim League (N) has gained a clear lead, winning 14 out of 18 seats, according to unofficial results, while the Pakistan Peoples Party has won four seats. These results are based on unofficial data released by the Election Commission.

According to the Election Commission, the election process could not be completed at 71 polling stations in Constituency LA-27 Muzaffarabad-I (Katla) and Constituency LA-28 Muzaffarabad-II (Lachharat) due to heavy rain, landslides and road closures. Polling at these places was postponed until Tuesday due to non-availability of election staff and polling equipment in the affected areas.

Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal told a media briefing in Muzaffarabad that, according to the initial results, the PML-N has won 14 seats while the PPP has won four. The final results will be announced after all legal proceedings are completed.

The Azad Kashmir elections are being held in three phases due to security arrangements. In the second phase, polling was held on seven regional seats in the Muzaffarabad division and 12 seats reserved for refugees from the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). In the third and final phase, voting will be held for 11 seats in the Poonch division.

After the results were announced, the adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs, Rana Sanaullah, claimed that the PML-N has secured the simple majority required to form the government. According to him, so far the party has reached 23 seats in the 45-member assembly, which has paved the way for government formation.

Rana Sanaullah said that the PML-N won four out of seven seats in the Muzaffarabad division and 10 out of 12 seats reserved for refugees, while the remaining seats went to the PPP. He said that the party would convene a parliamentary session after the completion of the third phase of polling to decide on its future political strategy.

On the other hand, the Pakistan Peoples Party has raised objections to the election process and made allegations of rigging, irregularities and violence at some places. The PML-N rejected these allegations and took the stand that the elections were held in a transparent manner. The Election Commission has not yet come out with a final stand on these claims and counter-claims.

There were also reports of clashes between political workers in some areas of Muzaffarabad during the polling. In one incident, the PPP blamed the death of its worker on supporters of the opposing party, while the PML-N said that the person in question died of a heart attack after an argument. Both these claims could not be independently verified.

PPP candidate and Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar has also sent a complaint to the Election Commission demanding an investigation into the security arrangements, interference in polling, incidents of firing and an alleged attack on his convoy. The Election Commission had not issued an official response to the complaint till the filing of this report.

Polling for the seats of refugees residing outside Azad Kashmir remained peaceful overall in various cities of the country; however, voter turnout was recorded low in several places. According to observers, the reasons for the low participation may include travel difficulties, weather conditions and local factors.

According to political analysts, the unofficial results of the second phase have put the PML-N in a strong position to form the government, however, the new political picture of Azad Kashmir will be fully clear after the third phase of polling and the release of all official results by the Election Commission. The future action of the relevant institutions on the complaints and objections raised regarding the election process will also be politically significant.