ISLAMABAD: The third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) general elections delivered a series of closely watched contests and major political upsets, as the Election Commission announced results for key Legislative Assembly constituencies in the Poonch Division on Tuesday.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission Secretary Raja Shakeel Ahmed Khan said that re-polling will be held at 23 polling stations in two constituencies on August 15.
Awami Dast-o-Baazo Party’s candidate, Sajid Iqbal Abbasi, defeated former prime minister and Muslim Conference candidate, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, in LA-14 Bagh-I.
According to the results from all 214 polling stations in the constituency, Abbasi secured 40,702 votes, while Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan received 19,542 votes.
The defeat of Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan is being described as one of the most significant upsets of the Azad Kashmir elections.
#AJKElectionCommission has announced the results of third phase of #GeneralElections2026, for Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly held in the constituencies of #PoonchDivision@GovtofAJK #RadioPakistan #News https://t.co/IC73jiQDWN pic.twitter.com/QkiXQMv7sy
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) August 11, 2026
The constituency has traditionally been considered a stronghold of the Muslim Conference and has remained closely associated with the political influence of the Qayyum Khan family.
The seat has been held by the Muslim Conference since 1985. Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan’s father, veteran politician Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan, also won the constituency several times.
Although political alliances had been formed against Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan in previous elections, he had managed to retain the seat with substantial majorities on several occasions. This time, however, Sardar Sajid Iqbal succeeded in breaking the Muslim Conference’s long-standing hold on the constituency.
In LA-15 Bagh-II, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Zia-ul-Qamar defeated former minister and PML-N candidate Mushtaq Minhas.
According to unofficial results from all 181 polling stations, Zia Qamar secured 16,637 votes, defeating PML-N candidate and former minister Mushtaq Minhas, who received 15,015 votes. Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Brigadier Raja Muhammad Khan finished third with more than 12,000 votes.
Former Azad Kashmir prime minister and IPP president Sardar Tanveer Ilyas was also contesting from the constituency but failed to retain the seat.
The result for LA-16 Bagh-III remains pending. The final result will be announced after re-polling is conducted at 12 polling stations.
Meanwhile, PPP candidate and AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore secured victory in LA-17 Bagh-IV, defeating PML-N candidate Mohsin Aziz.
According to unofficial results from all 190 polling stations, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore secured 31,839 votes, defeating PML-N candidate Chaudhry Mohsin Aziz, who received 28,975 votes.
However, the final outcome will depend on re-polling at 12 polling stations. The third phase of the elections is expected to play an important role in determining the balance of power in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly.
PML-N in strong position to form government
The latest results indicate that the PML-N is in a strong position to form the next AJK government, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has emerged as the second-largest political force. However, the final composition of the Legislative Assembly will become clear only after the completion of the pending results and re-polling.
The third phase was held against the backdrop of tensions between the miscreants of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and the authorities in different parts of AJK.
Elections in the Mirpur and Muzaffarabad divisions were held on July 27 and August 2, respectively.
In the first phase of the AJK elections, the PML-N won nine of 13 seats in the Mirpur division, while the PPP secured four. In the second phase, voters cast ballots for nine seats in the Muzaffarabad division and 12 seats reserved for refugees. The PML-N won 15 seats, while the PPP secured six.
Overall, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerged as the leading party with 24 seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured 10 seats in the elections held so far.
The third phase was initially scheduled to cover all 11 constituencies of Poonch Division. However, the Election Commission later decided to hold polling only in Bagh and Haveli because of concerns over the security situation.
The remaining seven constituencies – five in Poonch district and two in Sudhnoti district – are expected to go to the polls by August 20 or 21, according to the AJK election authorities.
Elections held in free, fair and transparent manner
Earlier, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan said the PML-N will form the government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir with around a two-thirds majority.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, along with Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam, Rana Sanaullah said the AJK elections were held in a free, fair and transparent manner.
He said the elements who sought to disrupt the elections in the territory failed in their attempts. He urged those staging a sit-in in Rawalakot to call it off, saying the people of Azad Kashmir have given their mandate to their elected representatives.
In his remarks, Amir Muqam expressed gratitude to the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir for reposing confidence in the PML-N. He said the people turned out in large numbers to exercise their right to vote and assured that the promises made to them would be fulfilled.
Meanwhile, PML-N regional secretary general Chaudhry Tariq Farooq said party supremo Nawaz Sharif would have the final say in choosing the next AJK premier, in consultation with the senior leadership.
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“Party decisions are not driven by individual ambition, but by the overarching interests of the party, the public, and the state,” Farooq said in a statement.
“The final call will rest on the political foresight and wisdom of the party leader, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, in close consultation with the senior leadership,” he added.
PPP accuses PML-N of rigging
The rival PPP, which had accused the PML-N of rigging in the previous phases, levelled similar allegations on Monday, claiming that its polling agents were removed from some stations, polling was delayed at several places and ballot papers were stamped illegally in the absence of its agents.
The party also complained of road blockades, violence and alleged interference by PML-N and JI workers at some polling stations, and shared on X copies of complaints it said it had lodged with the Election Commission.
PPP Vice President Sherry Rehman expressed reservations over reports of “rigging and malpractices”, saying the alleged exclusion of polling agents from some stations raised “serious questions” about the transparency of the election process.
