PPP leads race to AJK Assembly

The election for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly concluded on Sunday amid scattered incidents of violence, with unofficial results declaring the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) the winning party with 19 seats, followed by the Pakistan Muslim League-N whose candidates had bagged eight seats so far.
The Muslim Conference had won three seats, while two independent candidates won the election in their respective constituencies by the time this report was made at 1:30am. Two people were killed and dozens injured during polling in Bhimber and Muzaffarabad. In Bhimber, a PML-N worker was allegedly killed during clashes with PPP workers, while a man was killed at Niazpura polling station in Muzaffarabad.
Azad Kashmir Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (r) Khawaja Muhammad Saeed admitted that errors in the electoral rolls had led to problems in several constituencies, but said efforts would be made to rectify the mistakes. Earlier in the day, people living in Azad Kashmir as well as Kashmiri refugees living in various parts of Pakistan cast their votes. A turnout of over three million registered voters in 37 of the total 41 constituencies was reported.
Men and women both voted enthusiastically in the most sensitive constituencies of the region, including LA-4 (Khari Mirpur), LA-2 (Chakswari) and LA-3 Mirpur city. Paramilitary troops were posted at sensitive polling stations in all the electoral constituencies to assist the civil administration and police to maintain law and order. Elections were postponed in three constituencies including LA-30 (Jammu-I) and LA-36 (Kashmir valley-I) due to law and order situation in Karachi and in LA-41 (Kashmir valley-6) after Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s voters’ list was challenged in the court.
Polling in electoral constituency of LA-37 (Kashmir valley) in Lahore was postponed when fighting broke out between PPP and PML-N workers at polling stations set up at Chishtian High School and Home Economics College. Misri Shah Police registered a case against PPP candidate Diwan Mohiyudin on charges of snatching ballot papers in Chishtian High School. However, DIG (operation) Ghulam Mehmood Dogar claimed the situation was under control with no casualties.
Members of the PPP staged a protest demonstration at the Lahore Press Club alleging that the PML-N had rigged the elections. Later, the PPP, Muslim Conference and PML-N also held press conferences. The CEC said that PPP candidate Syed Azhar Hussain Gillani had won with 1,397 votes against PML-N candidate Zafar Ali who bagged 406 votes in LA-39, Valley 4 constituency. The PML-N’s Muhammad Ishaq bagged 24,407 votes, knocking out the PPP’s Shaukat Wazir Ali who got 18,101 votes in LA-32, Jammu III Sialkot constituency.
As per unofficial results gathered from returning officers concerned, three PPP candidates, including former prime minister Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, PPP President Chaudhry Abdul Majeed and Afsar Shahid won the polls from LA-3, Mirpur-III, LA-2, Chakswari Mirpur-II and LA-1, Dadayal Mirpur-I constituencies, respectively. Senior PPP leader and another former prime minister Sardar Yaqoob also won from LA-19 Rawalakot-3 constituency.
Muslim Conference President Sardar Attique Ahmed, who is also the prime minister of the state, returned successful from his native constituency from Dheerkot in district Bagh.