MIRPUR: Unofficial results began emerging Monday evening after polling closed in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, with voters casting ballots in 13 constituencies across the Mirpur Division.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) were locked in a close contest as early, unofficial and incomplete results began emerging from the first phase of the 2026 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections.
Voting was held in 13 constituencies across Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber. After polling officially ended, election authorities extended voting by one hour before the counting process began.
Initial results indicate a closely fought race between the two major parties, with independent candidates and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) also making gains in some constituencies.
According to unofficial results, PML-N was leading in LA-1 Mirpur-1, LA-3 Mirpur-3, LA-4 Mirpur-4, LA-5 Bhimber-1, LA-6 Bhimber-2, LA-7 Bhimber-3, LA-9 Kotli-2 and LA-13 Kotli-6.
The PPP held early leads in LA-2 Mirpur-2, LA-8 Kotli-1, LA-10 Kotli-3, LA-11 Kotli-4 and LA-12 Kotli-5, maintaining a strong challenge in several key constituencies.
Election officials emphasized that the figures are unofficial and non-final, with vote counting continuing at polling stations across the region.
Final results will be announced by the Election Commission after the completion of the official consolidation process.
Earlier, Polling ended Monday in the first phase of the 2026 Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, with vote counting now underway across 13 constituencies in the Mirpur Division.
Voting was held from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. in four constituencies in Mirpur district, three in Bhimber, and six in Kotli, where a total of 288 candidates contested the elections.
The main contest is expected to be between candidates of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), while the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) and independent candidates are also in the race.
According to election authorities, the Mirpur Division has 1,400,437 registered voters, including 724,811 men and 675,626 women.
A total of 2,316 polling stations were established for the first phase of voting, with 1,241 classified as highly sensitive and 724 as sensitive due to security concerns.
Authorities deployed 18,560 security personnel across the division, supported by 2,100 Pakistan Army troops, to help ensure a peaceful and transparent electoral process.
Election officials said comprehensive security arrangements were put in place, and no major security incidents were immediately reported as vote counting continued.
More read, AJK Legislative Assembly elections begin with first phase voting
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari alleged that a PPP worker was fatally shot by supporters of a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate during voting in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, calling on authorities and the Election Commission to investigate the incident.
