MUZAFFARABAD (Muhammad Aslam Mir) – The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission has officially notified the results of 21 successful candidates elected during the second phase of the AJK Assembly elections, formally completing the second stage of the electoral process.
The notifications cover nine constituencies in the Muzaffarabad Division and 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan. With the issuance of the notifications, the Election Commission has completed all formalities relating to the second phase of the polls.
The second phase of the elections had originally been scheduled for August 2. However, adverse weather conditions, including heavy rainfall and landslides, forced authorities to postpone polling at several polling stations in two constituencies. Fresh polling was later held on August 4, allowing the Election Commission to finalise the results.
Muzaffarabad seats
According to the official notification, Shah Ghulam Qadir was declared successful from LA-25 Neelum Valley-I, while Mian Abdul Waheed won LA-26 Neelum Valley-II.
In the Muzaffarabad constituencies, Noreen Arif secured victory from LA-27 Muzaffarabad-I, Syed Bazil Ali Naqvi was declared elected from LA-28 Muzaffarabad-II, and Sardar Mukhtar Abbasi Ahmed Khan emerged victorious from LA-29 Muzaffarabad-III.
The Election Commission also notified Dr Mustafa Bashir Abbasi as the successful candidate from LA-30 Muzaffarabad-IV, Saqib Majeed Raja from LA-31 Muzaffarabad-V, Farooq Haider Khan from LA-32 Muzaffarabad-VI, and Diwan Ali Khan Chughtai from LA-33 Muzaffarabad-VII.
Refugee constituencies
The Election Commission also issued notifications for all 12 seats representing Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan.
According to the notification, Nasir Hussain Dar was declared successful from LA-34 Jammu-I, Chaudhry Muhammad Ismail from LA-35 Jammu-II, Muhammad Ahsan Raza from LA-36 Jammu-III, Maryam Javed from LA-37 Jammu-IV, Zeeshan Ali from LA-38 Jammu-V, and Raja Muhammad Siddique from LA-39 Jammu-VI.
For the Kashmir Valley refugee constituencies, Aamir Abdul Ghaffar was declared elected from LA-40 Kashmir Valley-I, Muhammad Aamir Shah from LA-41 Kashmir Valley-II, Syed Shaukat Ali Shah from LA-42 Kashmir Valley-III, Muhammad Yasin Lone from LA-43 Kashmir Valley-IV, Muhammad Ahmad Raza Qadri from LA-44 Kashmir Valley-V, and Abdul Majeed Khan from LA-45 Kashmir Valley-VI.
Final outcome
The Election Commission said the notification of the successful candidates officially marks the completion of the second phase of the AJK Assembly elections.
Polling in the second phase had initially been planned for August 2 but was partially postponed in LA-27 Kotla and LA-28 Lachhrat after severe weather, heavy rain and landslides disrupted voting in several polling stations. The delayed polling was successfully conducted on August 4.
With elections now completed in two phases, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has emerged as the largest party by winning 24 seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured 10 seats, placing it second in the newly elected assembly.