MUZAFFARABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has maintained a strong lead in the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, securing 12 seats so far.
On the other hand, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has won four, and is accusing the PML-N of rigging.
Polling was held across eight constituencies in the Muzaffarabad division and 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees. Voting remained largely peaceful and continued until 6pm.
Polling in LA-27 was postponed after bad weather and landslides prevented election staff and polling material from reaching the constituency. Voting at all 196 polling stations will be held later.
The PML-N emerged as the clear front-runner in the early results, though counting was still under way in several constituencies, according to unofficial results.
In LA-25 Neelum Valley-I, PML-N candidate Shah Ghulam Qadir was leading with 1,433 votes after results from 11 of 143 polling stations. All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference candidate Abid Afzal was in second place with 1,018 votes.
In LA-26 Neelum Valley-II, PPP candidate Mian Abdul Waheed was ahead with 3,762 votes from 26 of 135 polling stations, while PML-N’s Shah Ghulam Qadir had 3,296 votes.
The PML-N secured a decisive win in LA-30 Muzaffarabad-IV, where Mustafa Bashir Abbasi finished with 17,749 votes after all 129 polling stations reported results. PPP candidate Mubashir Munir Awan came second with 11,947 votes.
In LA-34 Jammu-I, PML-N’s Nasir Hussain Dar was leading with 1,690 votes after 51 of 131 polling stations reported results. Muslim Conference candidate Muhammad Saud Mukhtar followed with 741 votes.
PML-N candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Ismail won LA-35 Jammu-II with 23,893 votes, comfortably ahead of independent candidate Sardar Muhammad Ghiyas, who secured 5,868 votes.
In LA-36 Jammu-III, Muhammad Ahsan Raza of the PML-N won with 27,218 votes, while PPP candidate Ahsan Ismail finished second with 12,980.
PML-N candidate Maryam Javed also secured victory in LA-37 Jammu-IV, receiving 28,664 votes against 22,827 for Jammu Kashmir United Movement candidate Usman Aleem.
In LA-38 Jammu-V, PML-N’s Zeeshan Ali was leading with 5,483 votes after results from 48 of 115 polling stations. Muhammad Akbar Chaudhry of the Muslim League Azad Jammu and Kashmir was close behind with 4,935 votes.
PML-N candidate Raja Muhammad Siddique was ahead in LA-39 Jammu-VI with 2,328 votes after 32 of 157 polling stations reported results. PPP candidate Chaudhry Fakhar Zaman had 650 votes.
The PPP was leading in LA-40 Kashmir Valley-I, where Amir Abdul Ghaffar had 1,178 votes from 23 of 47 polling stations. PML-N candidate Muhammad Naeem Khan had 65 votes.
In LA-41 Kashmir Valley-II, PML-N’s Muhammad Amir Shah won with 1,804 votes after all 19 polling stations reported results. Independent candidate Saba Diwan finished second with 588 votes.
PML-N candidate Syed Shaukat Ali Shah won LA-42 Kashmir Valley-III with 1,524 votes, while PPP candidate Muhammad Asim Sharif received 477 votes.
In LA-43 Kashmir Valley-IV, Muhammad Yasin Lone of the PML-N won with 1,276 votes, defeating PPP candidate Javed Butt, who secured 563 votes.
PML-N’s Muhammad Ahmad Raza Qadri won LA-44 Kashmir Valley-V with 1,700 votes, while Muslim Conference candidate Mehr-un-Nisa finished second with 650 votes.
The PPP secured a win in LA-45 Kashmir Valley-VI, where Abdul Majid Khan received 3,448 votes. Muslim Conference candidate Khawaja Muhammad Dilawar finished second with 823 votes.
The preliminary results indicate a strong showing by the PML-N in the second phase, while the PPP has also managed to pick up victories in several constituencies.
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