ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leadership and its supporters after the party emerged with a clear lead in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections. In a statement on Tuesday, the prime minister described the successful completion of the first phase as a positive development for the democratic process and praised voters and political parties for their participation. Shehbaz Sharif said political parties took part in the elections with enthusiasm, calling their active participation an important sign that the democratic process had been carried out successfully. Praise for PML-N campaign Congratulating the PML-N on its performance, the prime minister credited the party’s leadership and election team for what he described as a highly successful campaign in AJK. He particularly praised PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, saying the party’s campaign had been conducted under his leadership and had succeeded in gaining a clear advantage during the first phase of voting. The prime minister’s remarks came as attention remained focused on the election results and the political direction emerging from the initial phase. PM urges voters to maintain enthusiasm Shehbaz Sharif also called on people to participate in the next phase of the electoral process with the same enthusiasm. He said continued public participation would help strengthen and complete the democratic process, stressing that voters’ engagement remained central to the success of elections. The prime minister’s statement also highlighted the importance of political competition and participation in AJK, where elections are closely watched because of the region’s political and constitutional significance. The first phase of polling saw political parties compete for public support while voters exercised their right to choose their representatives. For the PML-N, the reported lead provides an important political boost and could shape momentum heading into the next stage of the elections. With the second phase still ahead, the focus is now expected to shift toward voter turnout, campaign strategies and whether the PML-N can maintain its advantage. The final electoral picture will depend on the results of all phases, but the opening round has already provided a significant political moment for the ruling party. Unofficial and Unconfirmed Results LA-1 Mirpur-1 According to the results from all 139 polling stations in LA-1 Mirpur-1, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Azhar Sadiq was declared the winner after securing 15,427 votes, while Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Muhammad Afsar Shahid came second with 9,832 votes. LA-2 Mirpur-2 After results from all 149 polling stations were completed, PPP’s Qasim Majid won the constituency with 12,904 votes, while PML-N candidate Azim Bakhsh Chaudhry secured 8,182 votes. LA-3 Mirpur-3 The PPP also won LA-3 Mirpur-3. According to results from all 161 polling stations, Chaudhry Yasir Sultan secured 11,676 votes to win, while PML-N candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed received 9,832 votes. LA-4 Mirpur-4 With results from all 162 polling stations completed, PML-N’s Chaudhry Rukhsar Ahmed won with 20,172 votes, while PPP candidate Chaudhry Sohaib Arshad came second with 13,865 votes. LA-5 Bhimber-1 PML-N candidate Waqar Ahmed Noor won LA-5 with 30,259 votes, while PPP candidate Chaudhry Pervez Ashraf secured 29,574 votes. LA-6 Bhimber-2 According to results from 100 of the 195 polling stations, PML-N’s Chaudhry Muhammad Razzaq was maintaining his lead with 21,210 votes, while Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party candidate Ali Shan Chaudhry was second with 11,354 votes. LA-7 Bhimber-3 After results from all 237 polling stations were completed, PML-N’s Chaudhry Tariq Farooq was declared the winner with 35,490 votes, while independent candidate Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq came second with 25,100 votes. LA-8 Kotli-1 According to unofficial results from all 155 polling stations, PPP candidate Zafar Iqbal Malik won with 19,535 votes, while PML-N’s Malik Muhammad Nawaz Khan secured 11,966 votes. LA-9 Kotli-2 With results from all 178 polling stations completed, PML-N candidate Umair Naeem won with 31,080 votes, while PPP candidate Javed Iqbal Budhanvi received 28,509 votes. LA-10 Kotli-3 According to results from all 169 polling stations, PPP’s Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin won with 12,431 votes, while PML-N candidate Fateh Mahmood-ul-Hassan came second with 9,245 votes. LA-11 Kotli-4 PML-N candidate Muhammad Asif won LA-11 Kotli-4 with 26,190 votes, according to results from all 206 polling stations. PPP candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Akhlaq secured 21,751 votes and finished second. LA-12 Kotli-5 Unofficial and unconfirmed results from all 207 polling stations showed PML-N candidate Muhammad Riasat Khan winning with 35,168 votes, while PPP candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin came second with 30,320 votes. LA-13 Kotli-6 After results from all 193 polling stations were completed, PML-N candidate Raja Ayaz Ahmed Khan won with 21,856 votes. Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party candidate Nisar Ansar Abdali finished second with 15,859 votes. Maryam Aurangzeb’s Statement on X Punjab Senior Minister and PML-N leader Maryam Aurangzeb wrote on social media platform X that Mirpur had already announced its decision in favour of PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif when they visited the city on July 24, and that voters had now formally endorsed that decision by voting for the lion, PML-N’s electoral symbol. She said the people of Muzaffarabad had also already expressed their decision on July 21, adding that on August 2, Kashmiris would formally reaffirm their decision by voting for the lion. Maryam Aurangzeb concluded her statement by saying that, God willing, the development of Azad Jammu and Kashmir is linked with PML-N.
