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Unofficial and provisional results have started coming in following the completion of polling for the second phase of the 2026 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections. Early results indicate that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has secured victory on two refugee constituencies, while vote counting continues across the remaining seats. Polling was held for eight constituencies in the Muzaffarabad Division and 12 refugee seats reserved for Kashmiri migrants living in different cities across Pakistan. Voting in the Muzaffarabad Division began at 8:00 a.m. and, due to high voter turnout, the Election Commission extended polling by one hour until 6:00 p.m. Polling for the refugee constituencies concluded at 5:00 p.m. Early Results from Muzaffarabad Division In LA-25 Neelum Valley-I, with results from 10 of 143 polling stations, PML-N candidate Shah Ghulam Qadir was leading with 1,364 votes, followed by Abid Afzal of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference with 951 votes. In LA-26 Neelum Valley-II, after results from 8 of 135 polling stations, PPP candidate Mian Abdul Waheed led with 1,157 votes, while PML-N’s Shah Ghulam Qadir had 940 votes. In LA-29 Muzaffarabad-III, results from 2 of 138 polling stations showed Barrister Iftikhar Ali Gilani of PML-N leading with 379 votes, ahead of PPP’s Sardar Mukhtar Khan, who secured 353 votes. In LA-30 Muzaffarabad-IV, PML-N’s Mustafa Bashir Abbasi was ahead with 247 votes, while PPP’s Mubashir Munir Awan had 206 votes, according to results from 2 of 129 polling stations. In LA-31 Muzaffarabad-V, PML-N candidate Saqib Majeed Raja led with 2,934 votes, while PPP’s Chaudhry Latif Akbar received 1,660 votes, based on results from 14 of 249 polling stations. In LA-32 Muzaffarabad-VI, former AJK Prime Minister Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider of PML-N was narrowly ahead with 892 votes, while PPP candidate Sahibzada Muhammad Ashfaq Zafar had 871 votes, according to results from 5 of 163 polling stations. In LA-33 Muzaffarabad-VII, PPP candidate Diwan Ali Khan Qamar Chughtai was leading with 1,349 votes, followed by PML-N’s Mian Muhammad Rashid, who secured 1,029 votes after counting at 7 of 155 polling stations. Refugee Seats The first complete unofficial results declared PML-N victorious in two refugee constituencies. In LA-43 Kashmir Valley-IV, PML-N’s Muhammad Yasin Lone won the seat with 1,276 votes, defeating PPP candidate Javed Butt, who received 563 votes. In LA-44 Kashmir Valley-V, PML-N’s Muhammad Ahmad Raza Qadri was declared the winner with 1,700 votes, while Mehr-un-Nisa of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference secured 650 votes. Vote Counting Continues In LA-34 Jammu-I, PML-N’s Nasir Hussain Dar was leading with 1,690 votes after results from 51 of 131 polling stations, while independent candidate Raja Riaz Ahmad had 741 votes. In LA-35 Jammu-II, PML-N’s Chaudhry Muhammad Ismail maintained a commanding lead with 18,788 votes, followed by independent candidate Sardar Muhammad Ghayas with 5,041 votes, based on results from 100 of 142 polling stations. In LA-36 Jammu-III, PML-N’s Muhammad Ahsan Raza led with 10,002 votes, while PPP’s Ahsan Ismail had 4,756 votes after counting at 50 of 140 polling stations. In LA-37 Jammu-IV, PML-N candidate Maryam Javed was ahead with 19,014 votes, while independent candidate Usman Aleem had 14,734 votes, according to results from 121 of 185 polling stations. In LA-38 Jammu-V, PML-N’s Zeeshan Ali was leading with 5,524 votes, narrowly ahead of Muhammad Akbar Chaudhry of the Muslim League AJK, who had 4,988 votes, based on results from 49 of 115 polling stations. In LA-39 Jammu-VI, PML-N’s Raja Muhammad Siddique secured 3,176 votes, while PPP’s Chaudhry Fakhar Zaman followed with 945 votes after counting at 41 of 157 polling stations. In LA-40 Kashmir Valley-I, PPP candidate Aamir Abdul Ghaffar led with 1,178 votes, while PML-N’s Muhammad Naeem Khan had 65 votes, according to results from 23 of 47 polling stations. In LA-41 Kashmir Valley-II, PML-N’s Muhammad Aamir Shah was ahead with 922 votes, while independent candidate Saba Diwan received 556 votes after counting at 13 of 19 polling stations. In LA-42 Kashmir Valley-III, PML-N candidate Syed Shaukat Ali Shah led with 1,326 votes, followed by PPP’s Muhammad Asim Sharif with 682 votes after results from 13 of 43 polling stations. In LA-45 Kashmir Valley-VI, PPP’s Abdul Majid Khan was leading with 2,444 votes, while Khawaja Muhammad Dilawar of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference had 562 votes, according to results from 15 of 41 polling stations. The Election Commission had established 1,483 polling stations across the Muzaffarabad Division. Polling in LA-27 Muzaffarabad-II was postponed because of severe weather and landslides. Voting for the refugee constituencies was held in several cities across Pakistan. Polling for Jammu-I and Kashmir Valley-I took place in Karachi, while Rawalpindi and Islamabad hosted polling for LA-43 Kashmir Valley-IV, LA-44 Kashmir Valley-V, and LA-39 Jammu-VI. Vote counting is continuing, and official results are expected after the completion of the counting process.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has welcomed US President Donald Trump’s support for the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, saying Pakistan will continue working with Saudi Arabia and Türkiye to ensure its own defence as well as the security of the region. In a statement, the prime minister said he appreciated President Trump’s remarks regarding the agreement. He said Pakistan would continue playing its role alongside Saudi Arabia and Türkiye in strengthening regional defence and security. Shehbaz Sharif also praised President Trump for his role in helping avert a nuclear catastrophe in South Asia and potentially saving millions of lives. The prime minister stressed that sustainable peace was essential for ensuring a bright and prosperous future for the people. He said lasting peace and regional stability were fundamental requirements for economic development and the well-being of nations. Earlier, President Donald Trump had welcomed the signing of the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement between Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan. Trump said he was extremely pleased that Saudi Arabia, Türkiye and Pakistan had finally signed the agreement. He described the development as evidence of the Middle East becoming more united and said countries in the region would ultimately become better able to defend themselves effectively. The US president congratulated the leadership of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye, calling the agreement a major, bold and important first step. The statements come as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye seek closer defence and security cooperation. The agreement is being viewed as an important development in strengthening coordination among the three countries and enhancing their collective ability to respond to security challenges. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s remarks also reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to regional peace and stability. He said Pakistan would continue contributing to efforts aimed at protecting the region and preventing conflicts that could have devastating consequences for millions of people.

The superintendent of Adiala Jail has submitted a two-page report to the Supreme Court regarding the health of PTI founder Imran Khan and his meetings with family members while in prison. According to the report, Imran Khan and his wife have been meeting regularly every Tuesday under the applicable jail rules. The report states that a total of 84 meetings between the two have taken place so far. The jail superintendent also referred to proceedings related to a contempt of court case, stating that the matter had already been decided by a bench headed by the chief justice of the Islamabad High Court. The report also mentioned an undertaking given by Salman Akram Raja that the media would not be addressed inside the jail premises after meetings. The report claimed that the undertaking was allegedly violated when media interaction took place despite the court’s directions. It also referred to an Islamabad High Court single-bench ruling in the Sher Afzal case, in which Jail Rule 265 was declared unlawful. The jail administration further alleged that statements made during meetings at the prison were used to create public sentiment against the judiciary, foreign policy and law-enforcement institutions. Regarding Imran Khan’s health, the report said that prison medical officers examine him and monitor his food and water intake three times a day. It added that several government doctors have also examined him and that records of these medical assessments are available. The report said Imran Khan has also received treatment from an eye specialist. According to the jail superintendent, one of his eyes has now become almost normal following treatment. A summary of 39 medical examinations conducted by different specialists between November 4, 2023 and August 10, 2026, has also been attached to the report. The jail superintendent requested the Supreme Court to dispose of the case in light of the information provided in the report. Meanwhile, a three-member Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Shahid Waheed is scheduled to hear the case tomorrow, August 18.

Security forces have killed seven militants during an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Kharan district. According to security sources, the operation was conducted in the Lajay area of Kharan. The action was carried out on the basis of intelligence reports about the presence of militants in the area. Seven militants linked to Fitna al-Khawarij were killed during the operation. Several other militants were also wounded, according to the sources. Security forces conducted a search of the militants’ hideouts after the operation. A large quantity of modern weapons and ammunition was recovered. Other military equipment was also found at the sites. Security forces also recovered a motorcycle and two vehicles from the militants’ hideouts. The security forces subsequently destroyed the militants’ positions. The hideouts were completely dismantled during the operation. According to security sources, the militants were involved in several serious criminal and terrorist activities. These included extortion, kidnapping and target killings. The militants were also allegedly involved in planning suicide attacks. Their activities posed a security threat in the region, the sources said. The operation was conducted as part of Operation Radd-ul-Fitna 3. Security forces have been carrying out intelligence-based operations under the campaign to eliminate terrorist networks. Officials said such operations are aimed at disrupting militant activities before attacks can be carried out. Security forces are continuing operations against militant groups in different areas of Balochistan. Intelligence-based actions are being used to identify militant hideouts and target terrorist networks.