Balloting underway at 23 polling stations in 2 constituencies of AJK's Bagh district

Balloting commenced at 23 polling stations in two constituencies of AJK's Bagh district, with elections beginning at 8 am and continuing until 5 pm on Monday. The Pakistan Peoples Party's Sardar Ziaul Qamar won 16,637 votes in LA-15 (Bagh Central), followed by the Pakistan Muslim League (N) candidate Mushtaq Ahmed Minhas with 15,015 votes, and Jamaat-i-Islami's Brigadier Dr Muhammad Khan with 12,259 votes.

However, polling did not take place at nine stations in LA-15 and 14 stations in LA-16 (Eastern Bagh), leading to the withholding of results. Despite PML-N candidate Sardar Mir Akbar leading PPP's Sardar Qamaruz Zaman by 3,225 votes in the remaining polling stations, both constituencies' results were withheld. Both constituencies' candidates accused their opponents of massive rigging.

Chief Election Commissioner retired Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal assured a fear-free voting environment. The PML-N secured 24 seats in these phases, while the PPP won only 10 constituencies. The third phase of polling, originally intended for Poonch Division, was held in Bagh and Haveli due to law and order concerns. Bagh and Haveli saw polls conducted, but the Commission withheld results of two constituencies pending repolling at 23 stations.

LA-14 (Dhirkot) saw Jammu Kashmir Awami Dast-o-Bazu Party candidate Sajid Iqbal Abbasi win a significant victory with 40,522 votes. LA-17 (Haveli), where AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore contested, became a point of contention. The election in Haveli was marred by controversy when the returning officer declared Rathore the winner, despite PML-N candidate Engr Mohsin Aziz's claims of a promise not to announce results until Aziz's complaint was taken up by the Commission.

Retired Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal reserved his decision after hearing arguments from both sides on Thursday.