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The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has taken an early lead over the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, according to unofficial and provisional results.
Polling in the first phase was held on Monday across 13 constituencies in Mirpur Division, covering the districts of Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber.
According to the latest unofficial results, PML-N has secured victory in five constituencies and is leading in three others, while the PPP has won two seats and is ahead in four constituencies.
LA-1 Mirpur-1
Unofficial results from all 139 polling stations showed PML-N candidate Azhar Sadiq winning the seat with 15,427 votes, defeating PPP’s Afser Shahid, who secured 9,832 votes.
LA-2 Mirpur-2
After counting at all 149 polling stations, PPP candidate Qasim Majeed emerged victorious with 12,904 votes, while PML-N’s Azeem Bakhsh Chaudhry finished second with 8,182 votes.
LA-3 Mirpur-3
PPP’s Chaudhry Yasar Sultan won the constituency with 11,676 votes, according to unofficial results from all 161 polling stations. PML-N’s Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed came second with 9,832 votes.
LA-4 Mirpur-4
PML-N’s Chaudhry Rukhsar Ahmed secured the seat with 20,172 votes, defeating PPP’s Chaudhry Sohaib Arshad, who received 13,865 votes, according to unofficial results from all 162 polling stations.
LA-7 Bhimber-3
Unofficial results from all 237 polling stations showed PML-N’s Chaudhry Tariq Farooq winning with 35,490 votes, ahead of independent candidate Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, who polled 25,100 votes.
LA-9 Kotli-2
PML-N candidate Umair Naeem won the constituency with 31,080 votes, defeating PPP’s Javed Iqbal Budhanvi, who received 28,509 votes, according to unofficial results from all 178 polling stations.
LA-13 Kotli-6
PML-N’s Raja Ayaz Ahmed Khan secured victory with 21,856 votes, while Nisar Ansar Abdali of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) finished second with 15,859 votes, according to unofficial results from all 193 polling stations.
LA-5 Bhimber-1
With results from 115 of 176 polling stations compiled, PML-N’s Waqar Ahmed Noor was leading with 21,573 votes, followed by PPP’s Chaudhry Pervez Ashraf with 18,406 votes.
LA-6 Bhimber-2
After counting at 128 of 195 polling stations, PML-N’s Chaudhry Muhammad Razaq was ahead with 25,902 votes, while IPP candidate Ali Shan Chaudhry was second with 14,278 votes.
LA-8 Kotli-1
PPP’s Zafar Iqbal Malik was leading with 18,543 votes after results from 140 of 155 polling stations, while PML-N’s Malik Muhammad Nawaz Khan had 11,093 votes.
LA-10 Kotli-3
With results from 36 of 169 polling stations, PPP’s Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin was in front with 6,999 votes, followed by PML-N’s Fateh Mahmood-ul-Hassan with 3,560 votes.
LA-11 Kotli-4
After counting at 103 of 206 polling stations, PPP’s Chaudhry Muhammad Akhlaq was leading with 16,000 votes, while PML-N’s Muhammad Asif had secured 13,501 votes.
LA-12 Kotli-5
PPP’s Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin was ahead with 2,613 votes after results from 40 of 207 polling stations, while PML-N’s Muhammad Riasat Khan had 1,255 votes.
A total of 296 candidates, representing the PPP, PML-N, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, and independent groups, contested the 13 seats.
The constituencies have 1,401,439 registered voters, including 725,118 men and 675,628 women.
The Election Commission established 2,454 polling stations across Mirpur Division, including 597 in Mirpur district, 1,107 in Kotli district and 608 in Bhimber district.
