Key Takeaways
- PML-N and PPP candidates win single seats in Muzaffarabad constituencies.
- Unofficial results show narrow leads for both parties in LA-27 and LA-28.
- Polling held after landslides and adverse weather delayed initial voting.
Pakistani Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidates have secured one seat each in the two constituencies of Muzaffarabad division during the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections. The results come after landslides and adverse weather conditions delayed initial voting, leading to partial or full deferral of polling.
In LA-28 (Lachhrat), PPP candidate Syed Bazil Ali Naqvi maintained a narrow lead over his PML-N rival Chaudhry Shahzad Mahmood. According to unofficial results available past midnight, the final consolidation of these results was still underway as this report went to press.
In LA-27 (Kutla), where polling had been postponed entirely due to weather conditions, PML-N candidate Noreen Arif led by fewer than 200 votes over Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) candidate Sardar Tabarak Ali. The Election Commission ordered repolling at two stations and held voting at the remaining 52 stations where initial polling could not be conducted.
The second phase of the AJK polls, which took place on August 2, 2026, saw a total of 122 out of 174 polling stations in LA-28 and all 197 polling stations in LA-27 open for voting. However, after allegations that PPP workers had taken away ballot boxes, the Election Commission ordered repolling at two stations.
AJK Speaker has alleged 14,000 fake votes were cast following their defeat and is seeking a forensic vote audit in Khawra MUZAFFARABAD. The speaker's concerns highlight potential irregularities that could affect the final outcome of these elections.
The PML-N and PPP candidates are now set to contest for one seat each, with both parties maintaining close competition in the Muzaffarabad constituencies. The third phase of polling is expected to take place soon.
