PML-N wins five, PPP takes two AJK reserved seats

MUZAFFARABAD: The PML-N secured five of the seven reserved seats in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, while the PPP won two seats following Monday’s elections.

The results further strengthened the PML-N’s position in the incoming AJK Assembly. The seven reserved seats included five seats for women, along with seats for religious scholars and professionals and technocrats.

PML-N candidate Chaudhry Abdul Rehman Arain was elected unopposed to the seat reserved for Jammu and Kashmir State subjects living abroad. He was the only candidate to submit nomination papers for the seat.

Three women candidates of the PML-N — Sehrish Qamar, Maryam Idrees and Maryam Zaman, also known as Maryam Kashmiri — secured seats after receiving seven votes each. PPP candidate Farzana Yaqoob also received seven votes and won another women’s reserved seat.

The final women’s seat was decided through a draw after PML-N’s Riffat Abid and PPP’s Zobia Khurshid Raja secured an equal number of votes. Raja emerged successful in the draw and secured the seat for the PPP.

For the seat reserved for Ulema and Mashaikh, PML-N’s Mohammad Mazhar Saeed defeated PPP candidate Hafiz Tariq Mahmood. Saeed secured 26 votes, while Mahmood received 12 votes.

PML-N’s Barrister Syed Iftikhar Gillani also won the seat reserved for technocrats and other professionals. He secured 26 votes against PPP candidate Sahibzada Zulfiqar Ali, who received 14 votes.

The Election Commission formally notified all seven successful candidates shortly after the results were announced.

The reserved-seat elections were conducted by the 38 members who have so far been elected through direct voting. Elections on seven of the 45 directly elected seats could not be held because of security and law-and-order concerns in parts of Poonch and Sudhnoti districts.

The AJK Legislative Assembly comprises 53 members. Of these, 45 are directly elected, while eight seats are filled through elections among the directly elected members.

The newly elected members were expected to take oath during the inaugural session of the new assembly. The session was scheduled to begin shortly after the announcement of the reserved-seat results.

In the direct elections held so far, the PML-N has emerged as the dominant political force, winning 25 of the 38 contested seats. The PPP has secured 12 seats, while one successful candidate from the Awami Dast-o-Bazu party has joined the PML-N.

The AJK elections were conducted in phases because of security concerns and unrest in the region. The first phase was held on July 27, followed by the second on August 2 and the third on August 10.

Meanwhile, political tensions between the PML-N and PPP have continued to grow. The PPP has raised allegations of irregularities in the AJK election process and demanded that its concerns be addressed.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has also indicated that cooperation between the two parties could face difficulties unless the PPP’s reservations over the AJK elections are resolved.

The PPP has also expressed concerns about the government’s handling of legislation at the federal level. The party has argued that major bills should be discussed with coalition partners before being brought before Parliament.