Islamabad (Web Desk): Prime Minister’s Adviser Rana Sanaullah has claimed that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has secured a simple majority to form government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) after securing victories in 13 of the 20 seats contested so far.
Addressing a press conference, Sanaullah said polling has been completed on 20 of the 45 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly. He explained that elections were held on 13 seats during the first phase, while voting concluded on seven of the nine Muzaffarabad constituencies in the second phase.
He said PML-N won 13 seats overall, including four of the seven seats contested in Muzaffarabad. The remaining three seats in the capital region were won by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Sanaullah added that PML-N also captured 10 out of 12 refugee seats, claiming that PPP neither actively campaigned nor fielded candidates on those constituencies, where the contests were largely between PML-N and the Muslim Conference.
He said the latest results have taken PML-N's tally to 23 seats in the 45-member assembly, giving the party the numbers needed to establish a simple majority under the leadership of Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif.
He noted that elections on another 10 seats will be held in the third phase after one constituency became vacant following the death of a candidate.
Congratulating the successful candidates on behalf of PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Sanaullah also extended his congratulations to PPP winners and all those who took part in the electoral process, describing it as a positive democratic exercise.
He expressed confidence that the future PML-N government in AJK would honour every commitment made to the people and initiate a new chapter of development across the region.
Turning his attention to the opposition, Sanaullah accused the PPP of resorting to allegations of election rigging after suffering defeat in Mirpur. He said party leaders began promoting claims of manipulation without presenting any credible proof.
He argued that the polling station cited by PPP as evidence of irregularities had actually produced an overwhelming 96 percent vote share for its own candidate, questioning the logic behind the accusations.
Sanaullah further said that PPP leaders in constituency LA-31 had realised well before polling day that they were likely to lose and therefore attempted to create hurdles in the electoral process.
The PM’s aid said after their demand for the deployment of Sindh Police was rejected, they spent the day trying to generate unrest and reduce voter turnout.
He also claimed that PPP supporters, along with members of an action committee, created disturbances in one city constituency by burning tyres and opening fire after police intervened.
Rana Sanullah said that the incident resulted in one death, spread fear among voters and significantly reduced turnout, costing PML-N an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 votes.
Questioning another PPP allegation, Sanaullah referred to reports of an attack on one of the party's MNAs, saying contradictory statements were issued regarding the nature of the injuries, while no medical evidence was produced to support those claims.
He urged PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari to examine the conduct of his party leaders, arguing that making unsubstantiated allegations and attempting to undermine the credibility of the election process was harmful to democracy and contrary to the spirit of the Charter of Democracy signed by Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif.
Sanaullah maintained that the elections were transparent, fair and credible, adding that they had been conducted in line with the directives of PM Shehbaz. He predicted that PML-N would also secure victory on three or four of the remaining seats and thanked the party's workers, organisers and voters for their dedication throughout the campaign.
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Engr Amir Muqam described PML-N's electoral performance as a triumph not only for the party but also for democratic values and the authority of the state.
He said the peaceful completion of the second phase of polling was made possible through the blessings of Almighty Allah and reflected the strength of democratic institutions.
Muqam rejected earlier predictions of poor voter participation, saying the electorate turned out in significant numbers, with turnout reaching around 50 to 60 percent in several constituencies despite claims that the elections would fail to attract voters.
He praised the Election Commission, civil administration, police, security agencies and the AJK government for their coordinated efforts in ensuring the smooth conduct of the polls, saying the successful election was the result of teamwork among all institutions involved.
Highlighting the party's campaign, Muqam said that PML-N centred its campaign on its manifesto and governance record rather than political rhetoric, adding that the people of Kashmir assessed the party's past performance, current vision and future commitments before making their decision at the ballot box.
He also dismissed PPP's allegations of rigging, saying such claims were being made by candidates who sensed defeat.
Expressing optimism about the remaining phase of polling, Muqam said he expected another encouraging outcome for both democracy and the people of AJK.