AJK polls: PTI claims big victory over PPP, PML-N

On Jul 26, 2021 Last updated Oct 4, 2021

With the announcement of more results by the Election Commission late Sunday night, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) further consolidated its leading position in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly (AJKLA) elections, leaving its arch-rivals behind by a great margin.

According to the unconfirmed and unofficial results, the PTI won 26 seats, out of the 45 constituencieswhile its arch-rivals Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) secured seven seats and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) eight.

AJK Elections 2021

43/45 Seats (unofficial) Results

PTI 26
PPP 08
PMLN 07
MC 01
JKPP 01

Awaited 02@FaizanHayat13 #AJKElection2021 #AaiAaiPTI #PTI #KashmirElection #Muzaffarabad #Vote4Bat #Vote4PTI pic.twitter.com/vrZ8jF7HIu

— Azhar Mashwani (@MashwaniAzhar) July 25, 2021

In LA-3 Mirpur, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, the candidate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) has won the election to AJK Legislative Assembly by defeating his nearest rival Ch. Muhammad Saeed of Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) by 3147 votes.

The polling, which started at 8 in the morning continued till 5 in the evening without any break, was held to elect 45 legislators of AJK Assembly, 33 from AJK and 12 from all four provinces of Pakistan called ‘refugee seats’, in overall a charged but peaceful environment.

There were over 3.22 million Kashmiri registered voters including 1,752,788 male and 1,468,005 female. Nearly, 6,139 polling stations were established to facilitate the voters.

A total of 587 candidates contested the elections in 33 constituencies of Azad Kashmir districts and 121 candidates on 12 constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir refugees settled in Pakistan.

AJK Election Commission had finalized foolproof arrangements to hold free, fair, and transparent elections in a peaceful manner.

Over 40,000 security personnel including Pak Army, FC, Rangers and police were deployed in all constituencies of AJK to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for the polling process.

The Kashmiris living in different areas of Pakistan also exercised their vote to choose their candidates on 12 constituencies meant of Jammu and Kashmir refugees settled in various parts of Pakistan.

While talking to media persons in Pind Dadan Khan Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said that India was very upset on certain victory of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf in Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections.

In today’s elections, the Kashmiris have overwhelmingly voted for the PTI candidates and with the gace of Allah it will form the government, he said.

While addressing a public meeting outside Lal Haveli, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed congratulated the people over the historic victory of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Elections 2021 in Rawalpindi and said for the first time, in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Polls, PTI made a historic success.

While addressing a press conferrence in Lahore, Special Assisstant to Chief Minister Punjab Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan said Kashmiris love Imran Khan because he is sincere in their cause.

Talking to APP, AJK Secretary Election Commission (EC) Muhammad Ghazanfar Khan said the General Elections 2021 were held in a free, fair and transparent manner, rejecting the rigging allegations from some quarters. “No complaint has been received from any part of the state in this regard.”

He said no one was allowed to cast vote without the original National Computerized Identity Card (CNIC), adding the EC looked into some complaints on its own and found no truth in them after complete verification. “Alhamdulillah!, the election process was generally peaceful.”

The secretary said that voters inside the polling stations were allowed to cast their votes even after the end of the announced closing time – 5 pm.

He disagreed with the questioner that polling was not allowed in some constituencies due to law and order situation. “We have not received any report regarding the closing of polling at any polling station before the scheduled time.”

He expressed satisfaction over the law and order and appreciated the performance of the police and the Pakistan army for ensuring the peaceful conduct of the elections.

He said the AJK Chief Election Commissioner and EC members had visited all over the AJK to examine arrangements made for holding of the elections in a transparent manner.