IPP eyes entry into AJK Legislative Assembly

MUZAFFARABAD:

Polling and counting were completed on Tuesday in two key constituencies of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) where voting had been postponed during the second phase of the general elections due to adverse weather, leaving the contest in LA-27 Kotla on a knife-edge.

Polling was held across all 197 polling stations in LA-27 Kotla and at 51 of the 115 polling stations in LA-28 Lachhrat. The affected polling stations in Lachhrat were located in the three union councils of Panjgran, Noseri and Nosda.

According to results available after the completion of counting, Sardar Tabarak Ali of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) was leading in Kotla with 18,543 votes, followed closely by PML-N candidate Noreen Arif with 18,351 votes. PPP candidate Sardar Javed Ayub stood third with 16,919 votes.

The margin between the top two candidates stood at just 192 votes, while 641 votes cast by government employees were yet to be counted, keeping the final outcome uncertain.

The Kotla constituency has 107,061 registered voters and 197 polling stations, making it one of the most closely watched electoral contests in Muzaffarabad Division.

In LA-28 Lachhrat, the contest was equally tight. PML-N candidate Chaudhry Shehzad was leading with 22,809 votes against PPP candidate Bazal Ali Naqvi's 22,310 votes, giving the PML-N candidate a lead of 499 votes after Tuesday's polling. In this constituency few polling stations results are awaited. Overall turnout in the two constituencies was recorded at around 60 per cent.

The election commission had postponed polling in both constituencies on August 2 after heavy rain, landslides and difficulties in transporting election material prevented polling from taking place as scheduled.

Polling began on Tuesday morning amid heightened security, with voters turning up at polling stations in both constituencies. Additional personnel were deployed at sensitive polling stations, while Pakistan Army, Rangers and police personnel performed security duties to ensure a peaceful electoral process.

Meanwhile, the PPP alleged irregularities at a polling station in LA-27 Kotla and called on the election commission to intervene and investigate the matter. The party's election cell submitted a complaint to the chief election commissioner.

The outcome of the two constituencies could have a significant bearing on the overall electoral balance in AJK. According to results available so far, the PML-N has emerged as the largest party with 23 seats, while the PPP is the second-largest party with nine seats.

If the PML-N wins both Kotla and Lachhrat, its tally will rise to 25 seats, further strengthening its position in the ongoing electoral contest.

The next phase of the AJK elections is scheduled for August 10, when polling will be held in constituencies in Bagh, Haveli and other areas of the Rawalakot Division.