JI-PTI-backed candidate scores Dhirkot upset

Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan, whose family dominated the constituency for 70 years, lost contest by more than 21,000 votes

DHIRKOT:

In the third and final phase of the general elections for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly held on Monday, the PML-N secured two out of the four seats up for grabs. If the leads are confirmed, the PML-N will have 26 seats in the legislature, compared with 11 for the PPP.

In Monday's elections, a major setback occurred at the LA-14 (Western Bagh/DhirKot) constituency, where the JI-PTI backed Sajid Iqbal bagged 40,702 votes, according to unofficial results from 213 of the constituency's 214 polling stations.

Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan, former AJK prime minister and Muslim Conference leader whose family had dominated the constituency for the last 7 decades, secured 19,542 votes, losing the contest by more than 21,000 votes.

PML-N candidate Faisal Azad received 3,000 votes, while PPP's Mubashar Ejaz secured 2,800 votes.

The decisive margin turned what had been billed as one of the most closely watched contests of the third phase of the AJK general elections into a clear victory for Sajid Iqbal.

Sajid Iqbal's victory triggered celebrations among supporters, who described the result as a rejection of traditional political dominance in the constituency.

In a victory speech following the emergence of the result, Sajid Iqbal dedicated his victory to the people of Dhirkot, saying they had chosen public service over conventional politics.

The LA-14 contest attracted considerable political attention, with candidates backed by major political parties and independent contenders conducting intensive campaigns ahead of polling.

A large number of voters turned out to exercise their franchise, while heightened security arrangements were made at polling stations across the constituency.

At LA-17 Haveli, unofficial results from 170 of the constituency's 190 polling stations showed PML-N candidate Mohsin Aziz leading with 31,428 votes, while PPP's Faisal Rathore was in second place with 24,218 votes.

At LA-15 Central Bagh, PPP candidate Zia-ul-Qamar was leading with 18,825 votes, while PML-N candidate Mushtaq Minhas was in second place with more than 15,000 votes. JI candidate Brig (retd) Muhammad Khan secured more than 12,000 votes.

At LA-16 Eastern Bagh, PML-N candidate Mir Akbar maintained a lead of more than 4,000 votes. Mir Akbar secured 14,900 votes against 10,960 votes for PPP candidate Sardar Qamar-uz-Zaman, according to the latest unofficial results. Results from 14 polling stations were still awaited.

Polling in Bagh and Haveli marked the third phase of the 2026 AJK general elections, with the outcome expected to further shape the political balance in the territory following the first two phases in the Mirpur and Muzaffarabad divisions.

The results have given the PML-N a strong position in the race to form the next AJK government. The PPP has emerged as the second-largest political force.

However, the AJK Assembly's final composition will become clear only after the remaining polls and the completion of official results. Polling in seven constituencies of Poonch and Sudhnoti has been postponed and will be held later.