ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan on Monday said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has secured a simple majority in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly to form the government in the state.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside Kashmir Affairs Minister Amir Muqam, Sanaullah said his party has so far won 23 of the 45 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly.
He further added the second phase of the AJK election had also concluded successfully, with polling held on 20 seats.
“Out of seven seats in Muzaffarabad division, the PML-N won four seats while PPP candidates secured three. PML-N also won 10 of the 12 refugee seats,” he maintained.
He said that polling in LA-27 was postponed due to adverse weather, while voting would be held on Tuesday at 54 polling stations in LA-27 and LA-28.
“A government will come into existence with a democratic and popular mandate that will control all ideological, financial and political matters of Azad Kashmir and the Kashmiri Independence Movement,” Rana said.
In addition, Sanaullah accused the PPP of joining hands with the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) to disrupt elections in AJK, saying the party began raising allegations of rigging as soon as polling started after failing to perform well in the first phase of the elections.
He added the PPP created a drama of an assassination attempt on Chaudhry Latif Akbar. “A false narrative was created on a scuffle between two parties in Khawra and the death of a senior citizen due to a heart attack.”
On the other hand, Federal Minister Amir Muqam said that the successful conduct of the elections was a victory for democracy, Kashmiris and the state.
Muqam said that all the promises made to the people of AJK for development and prosperity will be fulfilled.
“The role of the Election Commission and the administration in conducting peaceful and transparent elections is commendable,” he said, adding that the people of Azad Kashmir voted for the Muslim League-N based on performance.
PML-N leaders concluded that the PML-N conducted its election campaign without any accusations, adding that there were free, fair, and transparent elections in Azad Kashmir.
PM felicitates PML-N candidates, Nawaz Sharif
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif and the party’s successful candidates after it emerged as the leading party in the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, state-run APP reported.
“I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the successful candidates of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz,” the prime minister said in a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
He said the party’s performance reflected the leadership of Nawaz Sharif and the efforts of the entire PML-N team.
“Under the leadership of the PML-N Quaid, the party conducted a highly successful election campaign in Azad Jammu and Kashmir,” he added. Shehbaz said the victory demonstrated the confidence of the people of AJK in the party’s policies.
“The development and prosperity of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, along with the welfare and well-being of its people, remain among the foremost priorities of the PML-N,” he said.
He added that the participation of political parties in the second phase of the elections would further strengthen the democratic process.
