The PML-N bagged six of the eight reserved seats in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly on Monday, while the PPP won the remaining two seats allocated to women.
The reserved-seat polling marks another step toward completing the composition of the AJK Legislative Assembly after the three-phase general elections.
The eight reserved seats include five for women, along with one each for Technocrats, Ulema and Mashaikh, and overseas Kashmiris.
The PML-N captured three women’s seats, with Seharish Qamar, Maryam Zaman and Maryam Idrees emerging victorious. The PPP won the other two through Farzana Yaqub and Zobia Khurshid.
Khurshid and Rifat Abid received five votes each, leading to a draw that ultimately decided the seat in Khurshid’s favour. The PML-N also secured all three remaining reserved categories.
Pir Mazhar Saeed Shah won the Ulema and Mashaikh seat, Barrister Iftikhar Gillani took the technocrat seat, while Abdul Rehman Arain was elected on the overseas Kashmiris seat.
With the reserved-seat results, the PML-N’s representation in the assembly increased to 31 seats, while the PPP’s tally rose to 14. The PML-N’s strength stands at 32 after its alliance with a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Dast-o-Bazu (JK ADB).
Polling for the reserved seats started at 10am at the AJK Legislative Assembly building in Muzaffarabad, with the AJK Election Commission secretary acting as the presiding officer.
The newly elected members are expected to take oath following completion of the reserved-seat process. The assembly will then proceed with the election and oath-taking of its speaker and deputy speaker.
However, the process of forming the government is taking place without seven lawmakers, as elections in seven constituencies across Poonch and Sudhnoti districts are still pending.
The PML-N emerged as the leading party in the three-phase general elections, securing 25 general seats compared with 11 won by the PPP. During the first phase, polling was held in 13 constituencies of the Mirpur Division. The PML-N won nine seats, while the PPP secured four.
The second phase, conducted on August 2 in eight constituencies of Muzaffarabad Division and all 12 refugee constituencies, saw the PML-N win 15 seats and the PPP claim six.
The third phase covered two constituencies, with each party adding one seat to its tally. This brought the PML-N’s total to 25 and the PPP’s to 11.
