PTI emerges victorious in AJK elections

MUZAFFARABAD – The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged victorious in the 11th general elections of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly as it managed to win 25 seats, according to the unofficial count.

The PPP has bagged 11, while the PML-N has obtained six seats.

Both the Jammu and Kashmir People’s Party (JKPP) and the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (AJKMC) have secured one seat each.

UNOFFICIAL RESULTS

In LA-43 Valley-4, PTI candidate Javed Ahmad Butt won the seat by securing 774 votes and defeating his close contender PML-N candidate Naseema Wani who secured 720.

In LA- 41 Valley-2, PTI candidate Dewan Ghulam Mohiuddin clinched victory by securing 2,326 votes against his rival Akram Butt of PML-N managed to get just 741 votes.

In LA-45 Kashmir Valley-6, PTI candidate Abdul Majid Khan retained his seat by securing 1,545 votes against his rival independent candidate Abdul Nasir Khan who secured 718 votes.

In LA- 38 Jammu-6, PTI candidate Akbar Ibrahim Chaudhary won by securing 12.219 votes while PML-N candidate Chaudhary Zeeshan took second position by securing 7,325 votes.

In LA-40 Valley-I, PPP's Amir Abdul Ghafar lone clinched victory by getting 2,348 votes while his closet rival PTI's candidate Muhammad Saleem But could only secure 796 votes.

In LA- 44 Valley- 5, PMLN candidate Ahmad Raza Qadri won the election by securing 2007 votes against his rival candidate Mehr Un Nisa of the Muslim Conference (MC) who secured 1,163 votes.

These results are not official and final, and will be updated accordingly.

According to the unofficial and undeclared results from different constituencies, ex-Prime Minister AJK and chief of Muslim Conference Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan has been declared successful on LA-14 Bagh with 29561 votes.

The runner up candidate on this constituency is Major (r) Latif Khaleeq of PTI who secured 13,429 votes.

Deadly violence 

Earlier in the day, two PTI workers were shot dead in a scuffle with PPP activists at Mithi Jand polling station at Kotli’s LA-12.

The general polling comes after weeks of a highly charged and divisive election campaign that saw politicians from three bigwigs hurl allegations at each other.

Meanwhile, voting in some polling stations of other constituencies was also temporarily suspended due to violence-related incidents.

At least 5,129 polling stations have been established for 3.2 million registered voters out of which 826 have been declared most sensitive while 1209 as sensitive deploying additional forces.

At least 701 candidates are contesting for 45 general seats including 12 refugee seats in Pakistan. After a vigorous election campaign by all political parties, a neck-to-neck contest is being expected between Pakistan Tehreek-e- Insaaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN), and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Other regional parties which are taking part in polls are Muslim Conference (MC), and the Jammu Kashmir peoples party (JK-PP)’s candidates.

Around 32 political parties are contesting the elections and hundreds of independent candidates are also taking part in the 11th general election of AJK.

Meanwhile, around 40 thousand security personals including Pakistan Army personnel, FC, Rangers, and Police officials will perform duties to maintain law and order in the valley.

Most popular party?

Earlier, the ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has emerged as the most popular party in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, according to the survey of Gallup Pakistan.

Around 44 percent in Kashmiris think that PTI will win the election while PML-N has 12 percent and PPP attained 9 percent popularity.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan appeared as the most ‘trusted’ political leader in the survey with a 67 percent positive rating, 49 percent believed in Bilawal Bhutto followed by Shehbaz Sharif with 48 percent. Maryam Nawaz has 44 percent popularity.