Marking a significant moment in an ongoing story, • One seat still contested; unofficial results show PML-N on top in seven constituencies; PPP ahead in five • One killed, two injured in Nakyal violence • PPP alleges ‘ rigging, ballot stuffing ’ by ‘ N ’ candidates in Kotli • TTAP says electoral process failed to inspire ‘ public confidence ’ • PTI insists ‘ minimal ’ voter turnout reflects ‘ discontent ’ MIRPUR: Scuffles, violence and allegations of rigging marred the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir ( AJK) elections on Monday, as polling concluded in the 13 constituencies of Mirpur division with the PML-N seemingly in command, taking the lead on seven seats against the PPP ’ s five. According to unofficial and unverified results available at the time of going to press, the PML-N appeared to have swept all three seats in Bhimber district, claimed two out of four constituencies in Mirpur district and three out of six in Kotli district. Experts and analysts have been quick to weigh in.

Highlights

To understand the full scope of this development, it is important to consider the broader context.

In Mirpur district, Chaudhry Rukhsar was leading in Kharri Sharif, while the PPP ’ s Yasir Sultan was winning in Mirpur city.

In Bhimber district, PML-N ’ s Chaudhry Tariq Farooq led former AJK PM Chaudhry Anwarul Haq by a comfortable margin, while Waqar Ahmed Noor and Chaudhry Razzaq moreover had a comfortable lead in their respective constituencies.

In a detail that has not gone unnoticed, kotli district saw a 4-2 split, with the PPP ’ s Zafar Iqbal Malik ahead in LA-8 ( Kotli-I), party president Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin comfortably ahead in both LA-10 ( Kotli-III) and LA-12 ( Kotli-V).

Standout Performances

The reaction from the broader community of observers has been significant.

Meanwhile, the PML-N was leading on two seats, with Sardar Umair Naeem ahead in LA-9 ( Kotli-II), and Raja Ijaz Ahmed set to clinch LA-13 ( Kotli-VI).

At the same time, cEC Mughal said that a presiding officer and his attached patwari, who were said to have gone into a private Kotli residence along with the election materials, were arrested and replaced with fresh personnel, and the polling material was recovered.

According to those with knowledge of the situation, polling and violence Polling began at 8am and continued until 6pm across the three districts of Mirpur division — Bhimber, Mirpur and Kotli — after voting hours were extended by one hour.

Numbers

The impact of this situation is expected to be felt across multiple areas.

Based on to the Election Commission, voting was held at 2,316 polling stations, of which 1,241 were declared highly sensitive and 724 sensitive.

What has become increasingly clear is that in Mirpur city, voter turnout remained sluggish during the morning, with polling officials attributing it to the hot and humid weather and the tendency of urban voters to head to polling stations later in the day.

Adding further dimension to the story, while minor scuffles between PPP and PML-N workers were noted in Kotli district earlier in the day, polling turned violent in LA-9 Kotli-II ( Nakyal) in the afternoon.

In what observers are describing as a key detail, elsewhere, supporters of Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party ( IPP) candidate Ali Shan Soni allegedly snatched ballot boxes from a polling station in LA-6 ( Samahni), according to the Mirpur commissioner.

Meanwhile, sources familiar with the matter indicate that speaking to party workers in Muzaffarabad, Bhutto-

Looking Ahead

As the full scope of these developments becomes clear, questions about what comes next remain at the forefront. Officials and analysts agree that the situation warrants continued close attention.