PML-N secures six of eight reserved seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly, while PPP wins two women’s seats.
Web Desk: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won six of the eight reserved seats in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly on Monday, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured the remaining two seats allocated for women.
The reserved-seat election marks another step toward completing the composition of the AJK Legislative Assembly following the recently concluded three-phase general elections.
The eight reserved seats comprise five seats for women, one for a technocrat, one for Ulema and Mashaikh, and one for an overseas Kashmiri representative.
PML-N Secures Six Seats
The PML-N won three of the five women’s reserved seats, with Seharish Qamar, Maryam Zaman and Maryam Idrees emerging victorious.
The PPP secured the other two women’s seats through Farzana Yaqub and Zobia Khurshid.
The PML-N also won all three remaining reserved categories.
Pir Mazhar Saeed Shah won the Ulema and Mashaikh seat, Barrister Iftikhar Gillani secured the technocrat seat, while Abdul Rehman Arain was elected on the overseas Kashmiris seat.
Reserved-Seat Polling
Polling for the eight reserved seats began at 10am at the AJK Legislative Assembly building in Muzaffarabad. The AJK Election Commission secretary served as the presiding officer.
The Election Commission had earlier announced August 24 as the polling date for the eight reserved seats after issuing the election schedule.
AJK Assembly Strength
Following the reserved-seat results, the PML-N’s representation in the assembly increased to 31 seats, while the PPP’s tally rose to 14, according to the reported results. The PML-N’s strength was reported at 32 after an alliance with a member of the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Dast-o-Bazu (JK ADB).
The reserved-seat results therefore further shape the balance of power in the AJK Legislative Assembly following the general elections.
