MUZAFFARABAD: The PML N has swept AJK elections with thumping majority. PML begged more than 31 seats of 41. Muslim Conference begged 3 while PPP and PTI got two seats each. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is visiting Azad Kashmir to meet with the winning candidates of PML N. Journalist turned politician Mushtaq Minhas has been tipped as the new prime minister of Azad Kashmir.

Polling for the 10th general elections has ended for the 49 seats of the Legislative Assembly in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.Voting started at 8 AM today and continued without any break till 5 PM. Strict security measures were taken to ensure a peaceful process of voting.Voter turnout remained low. Locals claimed that the hot weather today had affected the turnout.In AJK’s Bagh district, three political workers got injured in a clash. The polling in the area was brought to a halt due to the scuffle.
In Muzaffarabad, the workers of two political parties clashed due to which the polling stopped.

In AJK’s constituency LA-5, the Supreme Court’s Justice Saeed Akram was stopped from casting a vote.

Presiding Officer Prof. Azizul Rehman said that the judge was stopped from voting as he did not have an original Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC).

hief Election Commissioner AJK Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made for the elections. “We have made foolproof arrangements. No bogus votes will be cast,” he said.

He said that overall polling in the elections held in free fair and peaceful manner except few minor unpleasant incidents reported at some polling stations in different constituencies.

The CEC continued that those involved in minor unpleasant incidents at few of the polling stations were booked on the spot and punitive action has been initiated against the perpetrators.

He further said that the Election Commission made adequate arrangements coupled with every possible facility to the voters to exercise their right of franchise in absolutely free fair and peaceful environment.

After a vigorous election campaign by the political parties that ended on Tuesday, tough competition was seen in the elections, especially from the mainstream political parties such as Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz ( PML-N), Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

People will be directly electing representatives on 41 general seats, for which 423 candidates contested.

People of AJK will be directly electing 29 candidates, whereas, 12 representatives will be chosen by Kashmiris living in Pakistan.

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