Vote counting continued on Monday after polling ended in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) taking a narrow lead in the early tally after securing victory in the closely watched LA-2 Mirpur-Chakswari constituency.

Polling was held in 13 constituencies across the districts of Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber.

Voting began at 8am and was scheduled to end at 5pm but was extended until 6pm on the instructions of the Chief Election Commissioner due to an unusually high voter turnout.

Voters already inside polling stations at the close of polling were allowed to cast their ballots before the counting process began.

More than 1.4 million registered voters were eligible to elect representatives in the first phase of the elections, including 725,118 men and 675,628 women.

A total of 2,454 polling stations were established across Mirpur division, including 597 in Mirpur’s four constituencies, 1,107 in Kotli’s six constituencies and 608 in Bhimber’s three constituencies.

A total of 296 candidates, representing the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) and independent candidates, contested the 13 seats.

More than 19,000 security personnel, including Pakistan Army troops and police, were deployed across the region to ensure peaceful and transparent polling.

Election officials stressed that all results remain unofficial and unconfirmed until formally announced by the Election Commission.

PPP ahead in seven constituencies

According to the latest unofficial and unconfirmed results, the PPP is leading in seven of the 13 constituencies.

In LA-2 Mirpur-Chakswari, PPP candidate Qasim Majeed secured victory after results from all 149 polling stations, polling 12,904 votes against 8,182 votes for PML-N candidate Azeem Bakhsh.

In LA-1 Mirpur, PPP candidate Afser Shahid held a narrow lead after results from four polling stations, securing 526 votes, while PML-N candidate Azhar Sadiq received 520 votes.

In LA-3 Mirpur, PPP candidate Yasir Sultan led after results from nine polling stations with 1,025 votes, ahead of PML-N’s Chaudhry Saeed, who secured 620 votes.

In LA-8 Raj Mahal Kotli-1, PPP candidate Malik Zafar Iqbal was ahead after results from 141 polling stations, securing 18,543 votes, while PML-N candidate Malik Nawaz received 11,093 votes.

In LA-10 Kotli-3, PPP candidate Chaudhry Yasin led after results from 36 polling stations with 6,999 votes, while PML-N candidate Fatih Mehmood secured 3,560 votes.

In LA-12 Kotli-5, PPP candidate Chaudhry Yasin was ahead after results from 50 polling stations, polling 9,788 votes, compared with 6,788 votes for PML-N candidate Raja Riasat.

In LA-13 Kotli-6, PPP candidate Waleed Inqalabi led after results from eight polling stations with 1,769 votes, while PML-N candidate Raja Ayaz Nisar secured 1,323 votes.

PML-N leads in six constituencies

The PML-N was leading in the remaining six constituencies.

In LA-4 Mirpur, PML-N candidate Chaudhry Rukhsar led after results from four polling stations with 659 votes, while PPP’s Sohaib Arshad secured 440 votes.

In LA-5 Barnala, PML-N candidate Colonel Waqar Ahmad Noor was ahead after results from 99 polling stations, securing 19,032 votes, while PPP candidate Chaudhry Pervez Ashraf received 15,493 votes.

In LA-6 Samahni, PML-N candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Razzaq maintained a commanding lead after results from 128 polling stations, polling 25,902 votes, while IPP candidate Chaudhry Ali Shan received 14,278 votes.

In LA-7 Bhimber, PML-N candidate Chaudhry Tariq Farooq remained ahead after results from 139 polling stations, securing 21,075 votes, while independent candidate Anwarul Haq polled 14,228 votes.

In LA-9 Kotli-2, PML-N candidate Umair Naeem led after results from 120 polling stations with 23,568 votes, ahead of PPP’s Chaudhry Javed Iqbal, who secured 15,039 votes.

In LA-11 Kotli-4, PML-N candidate Raja Asif was ahead after results from 53 polling stations, polling 7,900 votes, while PPP candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Akhlaq received 4,074 votes.

Ballot box torched in Bhimber

Despite largely peaceful polling, violence erupted at the Baba Shadi Shaheed polling station in LA-6 Samahni Bhimber-2, where supporters of the PML-N and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) clashed after an exchange of words escalated into a violent confrontation.

According to the Bhimber District Returning Officer (DRO), rioters snatched a ballot box and set it on fire during the disturbance. The destroyed ballot box contained 232 votes.

The DRO said polling remained normal at all other polling stations in the constituency and that a decision on re-polling at the affected station would be taken later.

Two presiding officers arrested

Election authorities also acted against alleged violations of the election code of conduct in Kotli, where two presiding officers were suspended and arrested after they reportedly took election material to a private residence instead of their assigned polling stations.

Officials immediately seized the election material and appointed replacement presiding officers to ensure voting continued without disruption.

A spokesperson said, “The authorities have suspended and arrested both presiding officers for violating the election code of conduct, and legal proceedings have been initiated against them under the relevant election laws.”

Officials vow strict action

Inspector General of Police AJK Liaquat Ali Malik said police would respond swiftly to any untoward incident, adding that no one, including political workers, would be allowed to take the law into their own hands.

Chief Secretary Azad Jammu and Kashmir Khushhal Khan said the people of AJK had demonstrated their confidence in the democratic process by rejecting disruptive elements. He said all state institutions were fully prepared to ensure peaceful elections and warned that anyone attempting to disrupt the electoral process or public order would face legal action.