PML-N secures 25 seats in AJK assembly as election process concludes

PML-N strengthens its position to form AJK government as final Bagh results give it 25 seats against PPP’s 12

The electoral process for the 2026 general elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir concluded on Saturday with the completion of polling and announcement of results in the two remaining constituencies of Bagh, with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) securing one seat each.

With the Bagh results, the PML-N has emerged as the largest parliamentary force in the AJK Legislative Assembly with 25 seats, while the PPP stands second with 12 seats.

The final phase of polling was completed following re-polling at 23 polling stations in LA-15 Bagh-II and LA-16 Bagh-III, bringing the main electoral process across AJK to an end.

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In LA-15 Central Bagh, PPP candidate Sardar Zia-ul-Qamar defeated PML-N’s Mushtaq Minhas after re-polling was held at nine polling stations. Zia-ul-Qamar won and got 17,118 votes, while PML-N managed only 15,227 and lost the election by 1,891 votes.

In LA-16 Eastern Bagh, PML-N candidate Sardar Mir Akbar Khan secured 20,796 votes against PPP’s Sardar Qamar-uz-Zaman, who polled 16,963 votes. Mir Akbar won by 3,833 votes.

The outcome further strengthened the PML-N’s position in the AJK assembly and placed it in a strong position to form the next government. The party secured the largest number of directly elected seats across the three-phase election, while the PPP retained its position as the principal opposition force.

The PML-N is also expected to gain six additional seats reserved for women and special categories, including seats for Ulema-o-Mashaikh, overseas Kashmiris and technocrats, further increasing its strength in the assembly.

The 2026 elections were conducted in three phases across AJK. The PML-N maintained a strong electoral performance throughout the process, winning a majority of the directly contested seats, while the PPP secured several important constituencies and maintained a significant parliamentary presence.

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The victories of Sardar Zia-ul-Qamar and Sardar Mir Akbar Khan gave the PPP and PML-N one seat each from the final two constituencies awaiting completion of polling.

With 25 seats currently secured, the PML-N enjoys a clear advantage in the race to form the government. The party’s expected gains from reserved and special seats are likely to further consolidate its parliamentary position.

The PPP, with 12 seats, is set to emerge as the main opposition force in the new AJK assembly, while the remaining political groups and independent members are expected to assume significance as the process of government formation gets underway.