MIRPUR: Unofficial and preliminary results from the Azad Kashmir elections in Mirpur Division have started to emerge, with early trends showing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leading in several constituencies, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has secured an advantage in others. These results remain unofficial and non-final, and the Election Commission will issue the official results.
According to the initial unofficial and unconfirmed results, the PPP is leading in seven constituencies. These include Waleed Inqalabi from Kotli, Qasim Majeed from Mirpur LA-2, Zafar Malik from Kotli LA-8, Chaudhry Pervez Ashraf from Bhimber LA-5, Chaudhry Yasin from Kotli LA-10, Chaudhry Yasir Sultan from Mirpur LA-3, and Chaudhry Javed Budhanvi from Kotli LA-9, all of whom are reported to be ahead of their respective opponents.
The constituency-wise preliminary results are as follows:
LA-1 Dadyal: According to unofficial and preliminary results from 13 polling stations, PML-N candidate Azhar Sadiq is leading with 1,908 votes, while PPP candidate Akhtar Shahid is in second place with 1,158 votes.
LA-2 Chakswari: Based on unofficial results from 12 polling stations, PML-N candidate Chaudhry Azeem Bakhsh is leading with 1,080 votes, followed by PPP candidate Chaudhry Qasim Majeed with 924 votes.
LA-3 Mirpur City: According to unofficial results from 7 out of 161 polling stations, PML-N candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed is leading with 1,228 votes, while the Pakistan Peoples Party candidate is in second place with 561 votes.
LA-4 Mirpur: Unofficial results from six polling stations show PML-N candidate Chaudhry Rukhsar Ahmad leading with 1,040 votes, while PPP candidate Sohaib Arshad has secured 606 votes.
LA-5 Barnala: According to unofficial results from 3 out of 176 polling stations, PPP candidate Chaudhry Pervez Ashraf is in first place with 783 votes, while PML-N candidate Colonel (Retd.) Waqar Ahmad Noor is second with 451 votes.
LA-6 Samahni: Preliminary results from three polling stations show PML-N candidate Chaudhry Abdul Razzaq leading with 800 votes, while Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party candidate Chaudhry Ali Shan Soni is second with 733 votes.
LA-7 Bhimber: According to unofficial results from 50 out of 237 polling stations, PML-N candidate Chaudhry Tariq Farooq is leading with 8,789 votes, while independent candidate Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq is in second place with 5,359 votes.
LA-13 Khoi Ratta: According to unofficial results from Polling Station No. 42, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party candidate Nisar Ansar Abdali is leading with 95 votes, while PML-N candidate Raja Ayaz Ahmad is second with 91 votes.
Polling Hours Extended
Polling for the first phase of the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly general elections was originally scheduled from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. However, due to an unusually high voter turnout, the Chief Election Commissioner of Azad Kashmir announced a one-hour extension in polling time.
Under the announcement, voters at all polling stations across Mirpur Division were allowed to cast their ballots until 6:00 p.m. Those who were inside the polling station or waiting in line by 6:00 p.m. were also permitted to vote.
To ensure a peaceful and transparent electoral process, thousands of police personnel, members of other law enforcement agencies, and Pakistan Army troops were deployed. Special security arrangements were made at sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations.
