PML-N and PPP Clash as AJK Voting Opens in Mirpur Division

Polling began on Monday for 13 Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly seats in Mirpur Division, opening the first phase of a closely watched election marked by an increasingly fierce contest between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party. The vote covers constituencies in Mirpur, Bhimber and Kotli, where major parties and independent candidates are competing for political control and regional influence.

The election is being held after an intense campaign involving several of Pakistan's most prominent political figures. PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari addressed large public gatherings in support of their respective candidates, turning the regional contest into a broader test of the parties' popularity and organisational strength.

Election authorities said arrangements had been completed before polling, with ballot papers and other essential material dispatched from district returning offices to designated stations. Presiding officers received the supplies and transported them under security supervision, while police and other law-enforcement personnel remained deployed along distribution routes and around polling locations.

Political tensions intensified during the final days of campaigning as the PPP accused federal government representatives of attempting to influence the electoral process. PML-N leaders responded by alleging that statements from their coalition partner had crossed sensitive political boundaries concerning Kashmir, exposing the growing strain between two parties that continue to cooperate at the federal level.

Four of the seats being contested are located in Mirpur, three in Bhimber and six in Kotli. The field includes candidates from the PML-N, PPP, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, PTI-backed independents and other independent platforms, creating several two-way and three-way contests that could produce narrowly decided results.

Among the prominent races, PPP candidate Afsar Shahid is facing PML-N's Azhar Sadiq in LA-1 Mirpur-I. In LA-2 Mirpur-II, PML-N's Azeem Bakhsh, PPP's Qasim Majeed and PTI-backed independent Zafar Anwar are involved in a three-cornered contest, while LA-3 Mirpur-III features PML-N's Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed and PPP's Yasir Sultan alongside IPP and independent challengers.

Competition is also expected to remain close in Bhimber and Kotli. Retired Colonel Waqar Noor of the PML-N is contesting against former AJK prime minister Chaudhry Pervez Ashraf of the PPP in LA-5 Bhimber-I, while IPP's Ali Shan Soni and PML-N's Muhammad Razaq Chaudhry are leading contenders in LA-6 Bhimber-II. Former prime minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, running independently, faces PML-N's Tariq Farooq in LA-7 Bhimber-III.

The election carries significance beyond the individual constituencies because it is testing the relationship between the PML-N and PPP at a time when both parties remain important partners in Pakistan's federal political structure. A strong showing by either side could strengthen its bargaining position, shape future coalition discussions and influence political alignments ahead of the remaining phases of the AJK electoral process.

Authorities will now focus on maintaining security, protecting election material and ensuring that voters can cast ballots without intimidation or disruption. The final results from Mirpur Division will provide the first clear indication of voter preferences and may establish the momentum for subsequent rounds, while any complaints or disputed outcomes could deepen tensions between the competing parties.