With the reserved seats included, the PML-N has 31 seats in the assembly, while the PPP has 14.
MUZAFFARABAD: Newly elected members of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly took oath Monday after elections were held for eight reserved seats, completing the composition of the house.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz won three of the five seats reserved for women, while the Pakistan Peoples Party secured two. PML-N candidates Seharish Qamar, Maryam Zaman and Maryam Idrees were elected, along with PPP candidates Farzana Yaqoob and Zobia Khurshid.
Khurshid and Riffat Abid each received five votes, prompting a draw to decide the winner. Khurshid was declared elected after her name was drawn.
PML-N’s Pir Mazhar Saeed Shah won the seat reserved for religious scholars, while Barrister Iftikhar Gilani secured the technocrat seat. Abdul Rehman Arain was elected to the seat reserved for overseas Kashmiris.
With the reserved seats included, the PML-N has 31 seats in the assembly, while the PPP has 14. The PML-N’s strength has risen to 32 after an alliance with the Awami Dast-o-Bazu party, which holds one seat.
After the assembly’s composition was completed, Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar administered the oath to the newly elected members.
The government formation process is being carried out without seven members because elections have not yet been held in Poonch and Sudhnoti.
