PML-N | Pakistan

PML-N outpaces PPP in Mirpur elections

The PPP and the PML-N, coalition partners in the Centre, traded barbs on Tuesday after the conclusion of the first phase of elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), with Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s party alleging rigging in the polls and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz urging it to accept defeat. The PML-N grabbed nine out of the 13 constituencies of AJK’s Mirpur division in yesterday’s elections, preliminary results issued by the Election Commission showed. Polls in AJK are being held in three phases over security concerns, with the first set of polls held in Mirpur division on Monday. Scuffles, violence and allegations of rigging had marred the polling process, with the PML-N and PPP accusing each other of electoral malpractice. In a televised statement, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz hailed the “outstanding victory” of the PML-N in the first phase of the AJK elections, urging the PPP to accept defeat. “The PPP should have accepted its defeat by affirming the spirit of democracy, but I felt aggrieved ...

The PML-N grabbed nine out of the 13 constituencies of Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) Mirpur division in yesterday’s elections, preliminary results issued by the Election Commission showed on Tuesday. Polls in AJK are being held in three phases over security concerns, with the first set of polls held in Mirpur division on Monday. Scuffles, violence and allegations of rigging had marred the polling process, with the PML-N and PPP accusing each other of electoral malpractice. According to preliminary results issued by the AJK Election Commission (Forms-26 and Forms-27), the PML-N emerged as the winner in nine constituencies, while the PPP could secure only four seats. Form-27 lists cumulative results based on votes cast on the polling day and by the election staff in advance polling. Form-26 comprises only the ballots cast on the main polling day, July 27, in this case. Results breakdown Following an intense election campaign by both parties in the lead-up to the polls, the PML-N emerged victorious in Mirpur di...

PML-N wins five seats, PPP grabs two as vote-counting underway after polling ends One killed, two injured during clash as violence, rigging allegation mar first phase of AJK elections Bilawal Bhutto express grief over death of PPP worker PPP raises concerns over alleged interference in AJK election process .

Saeed Ghani accuses PML-N of being behind death; Azma says ballot papers found at PPP candidate's residence

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission on Saturday warned that it would not allow any individual or institution to violate the code of conduct, amid a controversy over development pledges made by the PML-N during the ongoing election campaign. The warning came after former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced development schemes, including the ‘gift’ of 10 e-buses at election rallies in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur. The announcement did not go over well with the PPP, which described it as “political bribery”. It subsequently approached the Election Commission, urging it to take notice of what it termed a violation of the election code of conduct. An Election Commission spokesperson said federal and provincial ministers were free to participate in electioneering in AJK but could not use official protocol, government resources or the state machinery for electoral purposes. The spokesperson warned that the announcement of any new development scheme, ...

PML-N supremo and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on Friday questioned the lack of development initiatives in Azad Jammu and Kashmir after his ouster from power. He, along with Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, was addressing a public rally in Mirpur, AJK, ahead of the upcoming elections. Addressing the rally, he asked why there could be no development work in Mirpur or AJK after he had left the post of prime minister, criticising subsequent governments for not introducing or completing development projects. “Behind every project in AJK or Pakistan, you will find the PML-N’s stamp on it,” he stated, questioning, “Tell me if any other party has done something for AJK.” “Kashmir is as dear to me as Lahore. It is not my second home; it is my first home,” Nawaz said. He emphasised that he had come with a manifesto for AJK, with education as his top priority. “The youth of AJK will get education. Schools, colleges and universities will be built here,” he said, adding, “Scholarships will also be given to merit...

At Mirpur rally, Bilawal claims PML-N wants key AJK decisions taken in Islamabad, not Muzaffarabad

The PML-N on Tuesday formally kicked off its election campaign in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), with party supremo Nawaz Sharif addressing supporters in the regional capital. Elections in AJK, previously set for July 27, are now to be held in three division-wise stages, beginning on July 27 and concluding on August 10. Flanked by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the ex-premier began his address by noting that he was among the people of Muzaffarabad after several years. He expressed his affection for the people of Kashmir and highlighted the absence of a motorway between Kohala and Muzaffarabad. “A most beautiful motorway should be constructed along the Jhelum River from Mansehra to Muzaffarabad, and from Muzaffarabad to Mirpur,” the PML-N supremo said. He recalled that he had approved a plan for the region’s development when his party’s Raja Farooq Haider was the AJK PM in his last tenure. Nawaz said that he had never differentiated between AJK and the provinces of Pakistan. “AJK is as dear to me as Punjab...

PML-N reviews election strategy, orders door-to-door campaign and mobilisation of supporters across the region

LAHORE: A Lahore sessions court on Monday extended the interim bail of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MPA Saqib Chadhar and his wife, Samira Chadhar, until July 28 in a case involving allegations of harassment and death threats against actress Momina Iqbal.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that effective communication between the Centre and the leadership of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) was indispensable, directing that a committee be formed to review suggestions from PML-N lawmakers from the region for its welfare. He made the remarks while meeting with PML-N members of the GB Assembly in Islamabad, according to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Minister for GB and Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam, and PM’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah. “The development and progress of GB is among the federal government’s top priorities,” the statement quoted PM Shehbaz as saying. He added that the government gained “direct insight” into people’s expectations, issues and priorities via the members of the assembly, as their elected representatives. “Regardless of our affiliation with any political party, our sole objective is to serve the pe...

LAHORE: A sessions court extended on Thursday the interim pre-arrest bail of PML-N MPA Saqib Chadhar and his wife — both of whom have been facing legal proceedings for allegedly harassing television actress Momina Iqbal — till July 13. Additional District and Sessions Judge Nusrat Ali Siddiqi presided over the hearing, during which Chadhar appeared before the court along with his counsel, Mian Ali Ashfaq. However, Chadhar’s wife did not attend the hearing, citing health reasons. Judge Siddiqi, concluding the hearing, extended Chadhar’s and his wife’s bail, directed them to join the investigation initiated against them and instructed the prosecution to submit a progress report of the probe at the next hearing on July 13. Case origins The case garnered attention after a social media appeal by Momina Iqbal went viral in May and drew the attention of senior PML-N leadership, especially Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. In her online post, tagged to the PML-N leadership, Iqbal alleged that she had been subjected to “on...

GILGIT - Pakistan People Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have announced a political understanding and cooperation framework in the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly during a joint press conference held in Gilgit Saturday night.

GILGIT: The PPP on Saturday announced that it would form a government in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) with the support of the PML-N, mirroring the arrangement at the federal level. After elections on June 7, the PPP emerged as the largest party, with 12 seats in the 24-member GB assembly. The decision was announced by PML-N GB president Hafeez Hafeezur Rehman and PPP GB president Amjad Hussain at a press conference following a consultation meeting between the parties’ leaders. According to a press release issued on Saturday night, the parties decided to form a coalition government in Gilgit-Baltistan based on “mutual trust, consensus and consultation”. The statement added that both parties had expressed their determination to move forward together, prioritising political stability, public welfare and the promotion of democratic values. According to a statement, local PPP and PML-N leaders agreed on a proposed power-sharing formula following a consultation meeting, under which the region’s chief minister will be from...

PPP to get CM seat; PML-N to get governor, opposition leader, deputy speaker

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Thursday held consultations on possible political cooperation for the formation of a government in Gilgit-Baltistan following the recent regional elections.

Delegations of the PPP and the PML-N met in Gilgit-Baltistan to discuss proposals for forming a government in the region after the recent elections, the parties said on Thursday. The PPP is all set to form a government in the region after it gained 11 out of 24 seats in the Gilgit-Baltistan Legi­slative Assembly, according to unofficial results (Forms-47) of the June 7 elections. Key leaders of the PPP and the PML-N, which secured six seats, met in Gilgit to hold detailed deliberations on proposals related to the formation of the upcoming GB government. In its statement, the PPP claimed a “major breakthrough” in the process, saying that the parties decided to present the proposals for government formation to their respective central leadership. It said the discussions also pertained to political cooperation, along with various national and domestic issues. The PPP delegation asserted that the people of GB had given it the mandate by “making it the largest party”, its statement said. The party leaders stated t...

ISLAMABAD: With the federal budget for the financial year 2026-27 expected to be tabled on June 10, two major ruling partners, the PML-N and the PPP, continued their consultations on the proposed fiscal measures, with another round of the pre-budget meeting scheduled for later this week. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Wednesday that the budget would be tabled on June 10. Sources said the next meeting between the PPP and PML-N would be attended by party chairman, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, who will be back from his election campaign in Gilgit-Baltistan before the June 7 polls. PPP sources said these were routine pre-budget meetings to discuss taxation and other measures and multiple rounds could take place before the budget session. A PPP leader also said they were trying to reach an agreement with the government on fiscal measures in light of the new IMF demands, adding that they were unhappy with the budget in its current form. Another source said the consultations were also delayed because the IM...

LAHORE: Former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif will visit Gilgit-Baltistan on Tuesday to meet party ticket holders ahead of the June 7 elections. The GB Election Commission had announced that general elections in the region would be held on June 7 after a four-month delay. On Monday, Punjab Senior Provincial Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said on X that the PML-N president will visit GB on Tuesday for a one-day visit. During the visit, he will meet party leaders and ticket-holders. “He will also discuss the upcoming elections in Gilgit-Baltistan and matters related to the development and welfare of the people of the region,” she said. Nawaz has not been active in politics since the February 2024 general elections. However, he is serving as head of the Lahore Authority for Heritage Revival. The former prime minister often presides over its meetings and oversees measures for the protection of the city’s heritage. The PML-N supremo also acts as a political mentor to his daughter and Punjab Chief Ministe...