The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secured most rural and urban councils in the Mirpur division in the third and final leg of local government elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Unofficial and unconfirmed results began coming in late Friday night, followed by PML-N, PPP, and a number of independent candidates.
In Mirpur’s 46-member municipal corporation, the PTI won 23 seats, followed by the PML-N with 13, the PPP with 1, and nine independents, two of whom backed the PTI.
In Mirpur’s 27-member district council, the PTI won 22 seats. PPP, PML-N, and independents won the remaining seats.
In Bhimber, the PTI had 12 seats in the 31-member district council, the PML-N had nine, and the PPP and independents had three.
PTI and PML-N both won four members in Bhimber’s eight-member Municipal Committee. Therefore the chairmanship will likely be decided by a coin flip.
PTI and independents won five seats in Kotli’s 14-member municipal council, followed by PML-N with three and PPP with one. In addition, independents’ preferences are said to influence the mayor’s election.
In Kotli, the largest district council with 58 seats, the PTI led with 23 seats, followed by the PPP with 14, the PML-N with 13, and four independents.
Earlier, polling in a division with more than 76%’sensitive’ and most sensitive’ polling stations was peaceful.
Police received 12 reports of candidate fights, but just one person was hurt.
In Bhimber, three non-state subjects were arrested for violating the code of conduct at one polling station. In contrast, 11 people, including a candidate, were arrested at another polling station, where a rifle and pistol were confiscated.
Witnesses reported large lines at practically all polling places, demonstrating voters’ enthusiasm for a procedure held after over three decades.
 secured most rural and urban councils in the Mirpur division in the third and final leg of local government elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).){kind=link}