PML-N Claims Clear Lead in AJK Elections With 24 Seats
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said on Wednesday that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz had secured 24 seats in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, placing the party in a strong position to form the next government. The statement came after the completion of all three phases of polling, making the AJK result one of the most closely watched political developments of the day.
According to Chaudhry, PML-N has emerged with a clear advantage in the legislative contest and is expected to increase its strength further once reserved seats are allocated. He said the party would receive additional representation on women’s and other reserved seats under the election formula, taking its total expected strength to 30.
The reserved seats mentioned by the minister include categories for women, overseas Pakistanis, technocrats, and Ulema and Mashaikh. These seats can be decisive in shaping the final balance inside the AJK Legislative Assembly, especially when parties seek to form a stable government after a competitive election cycle.
In his remarks, Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the newly elected assembly members are expected to take oath next week when the legislative session is convened. He added that the election of reserved seats, speaker and prime minister of AJK would also be completed next week, setting the stage for a formal transfer of political authority.
The minister described the polling process as transparent and credible, saying there was no tolerance for irregularities or rigging. He pointed to the arrest of a person allegedly involved in taking away a ballot box from a polling station in LA-6 Mirpur as evidence that the administration and election authorities acted promptly where complaints or violations emerged.
Chaudhry also referred to concerns in Haveli, where PML-N candidate Mohsin Aziz raised allegations of rigging. The minister called for a transparent investigation and said he hoped the Election Commission would review the complaints on merit, a statement that signals the party wants the dispute handled through formal institutional channels rather than street-level confrontation.
The AJK elections matter beyond the region’s internal politics because the territory carries symbolic, constitutional and diplomatic importance for Pakistan. Political stability in AJK is frequently presented by Islamabad as part of its broader national position on Kashmir, making the composition of the assembly important for both governance and political messaging.
A strong PML-N position in AJK could also affect national politics by giving the ruling party fresh momentum at a time when political competition remains intense across Pakistan. For PML-N, the result offers an opportunity to project organisational strength and administrative confidence, particularly if the next assembly session proceeds without major dispute.
The immediate focus will now shift to the Election Commission’s handling of remaining complaints, the final reserved-seat allocation and the formal election of the speaker and prime minister. If the timetable announced by Chaudhry holds, AJK could have its new political setup in place next week.