MUZAFFARABAD: The major upset has emerged in the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, as Muslim Conference chief Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan has lost his traditional home constituency, LA-14 Bagh.
The counting process continued after polling ended, with unofficial and preliminary results being announced from different constituencies.
In this regard, as per the preliminary results received from all polling stations in LA-14 Bagh, Sardar Sajid Iqbal of the Jammu and Kashmir Dast-o-Bazu Party emerged victorious, defeating Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan by a significant margin.
Sardar Sajid Iqbal secured 40,702 votes, while Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan received 19,542 votes. The result gave Iqbal a lead of more than 21,000 votes over the Muslim Conference leader.
The outcome is being viewed as a major political upset, particularly because LA-14 is considered the home constituency of Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan.
The seat has also been associated with his family for decades, with his father, former AJK president and prime minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan, having won the constituency on several occasions.
The defeat could have wider political implications for the Muslim Conference, one of the historic political parties of the region. Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan has remained a prominent political figure in AJK and has played a significant role in the region’s political affairs.
The third phase of the AJK elections is being closely watched as results from the four constituencies in Bagh and Haveli continue to emerge.
Final results will be formally confirmed by the relevant election authorities after completion of the counting and verification process.
The election outcome in LA-14 may also influence the political dynamics in Bagh and could become an important factor in assessing voter preferences and changing political trends in the region.
With the counting process continuing in other constituencies, further results are expected to clarify the overall electoral picture in the third phase of the AJK elections.
