BAGH: The third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections continued to produce results on Monday, with polling held across four constituencies in the districts of Bagh and Haveli.
According to the unofficial and preliminary results received from all polling stations in LA-17 Bagh-IV, the sitting Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore emerged victorious.
Rathore secured 33,252 votes, defeating his closest rival, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz, who received 31,812 votes.
The result represents a significant political contest in the constituency, with the PPP candidate securing a lead of 1,440 votes over the PML-N candidate.
The results are currently unofficial and subject to confirmation by the relevant election authorities.
Polling for four seats in the districts of Bagh and Haveli was held on Monday as part of the third phase of the AJK elections. Following the conclusion of polling, votes were counted at polling stations and preliminary results began to emerge.
The contest in LA-17 Bagh-IV attracted considerable attention because of the participation of the incumbent AJK prime minister.
Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore’s victory allows the PPP to retain an important position in the constituency and strengthens the party’s political standing in Bagh.
The PML-N candidate Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz put up a strong challenge, securing more than 31,000 votes, but ultimately finished second.
Meanwhile, preliminary results from LA-14 Bagh also produced a major political upset.
According to the unofficial results received from all polling stations in the constituency, Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan, head of the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, lost his traditional home constituency.
The defeat of the Muslim Conference leader is being viewed as a notable development in the third phase of the AJK electoral process.
Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan has traditionally maintained a strong political presence in the region, making the result particularly significant.
The latest results are part of the broader electoral process in Azad Kashmir, where voters are choosing representatives for the regional legislative assembly.
The third phase of polling in Bagh and Haveli attracted attention from major political parties and their supporters, with candidates campaigning extensively before polling day.
As counting continues in other constituencies, political parties and candidates are closely monitoring the results.
Election authorities are expected to officially verify and announce the final results after completing the required procedures, including the consolidation of votes from all polling stations.
The victory of Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore in LA-17 is expected to have political significance beyond the constituency, given his position as head of the AJK government.
His defeat of the PML-N candidate by a relatively narrow margin also demonstrates the competitiveness of the contest.
The PML-N’s Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz received 31,812 votes, while Rathore secured 33,252 votes, resulting in a difference of 1,440 votes.
The outcome is likely to be closely analyzed by political observers as the remaining results from the third phase become available.
The unexpected defeat of Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan in his home constituency is another major development that could influence the political landscape of Azad Kashmir.
The All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference has historically played an important role in the region’s politics, and the loss of its leader’s traditional seat could have implications for the party’s future political strategy.
Meanwhile, supporters of the PPP celebrated Faisal Mumtaz Rathore’s reported victory, while supporters of other parties continued to await results from remaining constituencies.
The electoral authorities have yet to issue the final consolidated results, and all preliminary figures remain subject to official verification.
The third phase of the AJK elections is therefore continuing to shape the political picture of the region, with further results expected as the counting and compilation process progresses.
For now, the preliminary result from LA-17 Bagh-IV places AJK Prime Minister and PPP candidate Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore in first position with 33,252 votes, followed by PML-N’s Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz with 31,812 votes.
Further official announcements will determine the final outcome and the overall distribution of seats among the contesting political parties.
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