PML-N

PML-N and PPP each secured one seat in Muzaffarabad division following delayed elections caused by landslides and weather disruptions. PML-N's Noreen Arif won LA-27 (Kutla) with 18,919 votes, while PPP's Syed Bazil Ali Naqvi secured LA-28 (Lachhrat) with 28,214 votes. The second phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections included 12 refugee-reserved seats and faced protests over the inclusion of these seats.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi criticized the government for failing to relieve public hardship and stated the system has collapsed. He proposed creating more provinces to improve governance, a suggestion later supported by DG ISPR. His remarks, which referenced ineffective relief schemes and instability in India, drew significant attention and challenged narratives about government performance.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari accused PML-N of rigging in Azad Kashmir elections, warning their 'countdown' has begun. The PPP and PML-N, allies in the Centre, are in conflict over election disputes, with Bilawal planning a rally in AJK's Bagh town ahead of August 10 elections. The AJK Election Commission noted law and order issues may affect polling.

The PML-N secured 14 seats in the second phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, while the PPP won four, according to unofficial results. Polling was delayed in some areas due to landslides and bad weather, and the PPP accused PML-N of rigging and violence, similar to claims during the first phase. The third phase of polling will occur in Poonch division.

PML-N appears to lead in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections after unofficial results from the second phase showed it winning most contests, including 10 of 12 refugee constituencies. The PPP claims two refugee and two territorial seats but alleges widespread rigging, while sporadic violence and delayed polling in some areas due to landslides and weather disruptions were reported.

The second phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections began in Muzaffarabad division and refugee constituencies with over 300 candidates competing for 21 seats. Political tensions between PPP and PML-N, coalition partners in Pakistan, intensified over disputes regarding Mirpur election results.

Tensions between PPP and PML-N allies escalate over Azad Jammu Kashmir election results, with both parties exchanging rigging allegations ahead of the second phase. PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah questioned PPP's election claims, while PPP's Saeed Ghani accused PML-N of always rigging polls.

PML-N and PPP leaders resumed talks to address tensions over alleged rigging in four Mirpur division constituencies during the AJK elections. Both parties agreed on enhancing security for the upcoming polling phase and discussed resolving complaints through political and legal channels.

PPP leader Saeed Ghani accused PML-N of rigging every election they won, citing instances in 1985, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2008, 2013, and 2024. He claimed the PPP was targeted in these elections and emphasized his party's stance against creating new provinces in Sindh while supporting Punjab's requests.

Malik Muhammad Iqbal Channar, a PML-N MNA and former provincial minister, passed away at 76 in Bahawalpur. Political leaders including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Nawaz Sharif, and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed grief and praised his public service.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is holding regular meetings with PML-N lawmakers to address concerns about being ignored by bureaucracy and police. The lawmakers, particularly from rural areas, seek recognition when raising public grievances, as a recent policy shift removed their influence over administrative postings.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari warned that stealing the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) election would trigger a 'countdown' for the federal government. Addressing a rally in Muzaffarabad ahead of August 2 elections, he urged the PML-N and PTI to abandon boycott tactics and focus on fair political processes, emphasizing mass voter turnout to prevent electoral rigging.

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly adopted resolutions condemning federal ministers' remarks on Rawalakot unrest and endorsing a Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The resolutions, tabled by Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan and Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, criticized Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for denying Rawalakot residents Kashmiri identity and urged free elections and dialogue to address violence.

The PPP accused the AJK Election Commission of facilitating rigging in the first phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, with PML-N winning nine seats in provisional results. PPP's Hassan Murtaza alleged polling stations were seized, voting time extended to favor PML-N, and the commission failed to address violations.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir's first three-phase general elections are underway amid political unrest and security concerns. Preliminary results show PML-N leading over PPP, but fears persist that phased results may influence later voting. The PTI has boycotted the polls, citing unfairness, while security clashes and irregularities have been reported.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz praised PML-N's victory in the first phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections and urged the PPP to accept defeat. She criticized the PPP for alleging election rigging, arguing that the PPP's governance in AJK had worsened conditions and failed to deliver results.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari called for the government and protesters in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to agree on forming a truth and reconciliation commission to resolve ongoing tensions. The regional administration and JAAC are at odds over the proposed abolition of 12 seats in AJK’s Legislative Assembly, leading to protests.

Sharif’s PML-N won 9 out of 13 seats in the first phase of PoK polls amid allegations of rigging. A PPP worker was killed and two others injured in a violent clash on polling day.

A National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) official informed a Lahore court that PML-N MPA Saqib Chadhar was found guilty of harassing actor Momina Iqbal following an investigation. The court extended Chadhar and his wife's pre-arrest bail until September 3, with final arguments scheduled for the next hearing.

PML-N won nine out of 13 seats in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Mirpur division in preliminary election results. The election process faced security concerns and allegations of electoral malpractice between PML-N and PPP. The second and third phases are scheduled for August 2 and August 10.

PML-N leads in seven constituencies, PPP in five during Mirpur polls; violence and rigging allegations reported. One killed in Nakyal, electoral process criticized for low confidence.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari of the PPP responded to Nawaz Sharif of the PML-N, asserting that residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and similar-named regions will not surrender their political rights. The exchange occurs ahead of AJK's first election phase in Mirpur, amid allegations of pre-poll rigging and criticism of PML-N's 'gifts' of e-buses. Bilawal emphasized the PPP's infrastructure and educational projects in AJK, contrasting them with the PML-N's promises.

The AJK Election Commission warned against code of conduct violations following PML-N's announcement of development schemes during elections. PPP labeled the pledges as 'political bribery,' prompting the Commission to clarify that new schemes or government resources used for campaigning would be illegal. Media and social platforms were urged to avoid unverified content to maintain electoral integrity.

Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz pledged infrastructure and welfare projects for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), including an international airport and electric buses, amid PPP criticism over electioneering tactics. PPP accused the PML-N of making pre-poll promises and urged the Election Commission to address the issue.

Nawaz Sharif criticized the lack of development in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) after his removal from power, vowing to implement a manifesto prioritizing education, healthcare, and infrastructure if PML-N wins the upcoming elections. He and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced plans for schools, hospitals, and natural gas access in AJK, emphasizing their party's past contributions to the region.

PML-N launched its election campaign in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) with party leader Nawaz Sharif addressing supporters in Muzaffarabad. He emphasized the need for a motorway along the Jhelum River and the party announced candidates for 37 of AJK's 45 constituencies.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif assured Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Amjad Hussain of federal government support for regional development in sectors like renewable energy, tourism, and education. The meeting included key ministers and highlighted projects such as a 100-megawatt solar initiative and knowledge schools.

A resolution submitted to the Punjab Assembly seeks to ban dual nationals from government jobs, citing concerns over allegiance and access to sensitive information. The resolution, moved by PML-N MPA Amjad Ali Javed, references an investigative report claiming 24,000 government employees hold dual nationality and urges legislative action to prohibit such appointments. Similar calls were made by JUI-F MNA Noor Alam Khan regarding bureaucrats.

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections are shaping as a contest between PML-N's Nawaz Sharif and PPP's Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, with both leaders intensifying campaigns. PML-N faces criticism over its perceived role in a crackdown on JAAC protests, while PPP claims the federal government, not the AJK administration, is responsible for the unrest.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addressed a rally in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) ahead of regional elections on July 27, expressing hope for forming a government and seeking better public support than in previous elections. He criticized a murder case against PPP candidate Javed Badhanvi and pledged employment opportunities and self-government rights for AJK residents.

Rana Sanaullah, a PML-N leader, criticized JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman's remarks about army martyrs as 'inappropriate' but claimed they were unintended. Sanaullah condemned planned JUI-F protests near GHQ as an 'attack on Pakistan' and rejected claims of media propaganda against Fazl. JUI-F's Maulana Attaur Rehman accused critics of misrepresenting Fazl's speech and called for potential marches to Islamabad.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss the country's situation and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The meeting occurred ahead of AJK's July 27 elections, as the PPP and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) announced a joint election campaign and the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) called for protests over reserved seats.

Ministers from the ruling PML-N rebuked Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for remarks suggesting soldiers' sacrifices are tied to salaries. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif and other ministers criticized the comments as morally insensitive, emphasizing the ideological and patriotic duty behind military personnel's service.

A Lahore sessions court extended the pre-arrest bail of PML-N MPA Saqib Chadhar and his wife until July 28, as they face charges of cyber harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation against television actress Momina Iqbal. The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency is investigating the case under multiple sections of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act and Pakistan Penal Code.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the formation of a committee to review suggestions from PML-N lawmakers in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) for regional welfare. The committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, will address development priorities including infrastructure, education, energy, and employment, with initiatives like cadet schools and a 100-megawatt solar project highlighted.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Supreme Appellate Court disqualified PPP candidate Fida Muhammad Nashad for concealing assets in his nomination papers, overturning a lower court's decision that had allowed him to contest. The court found Nashad violated the Election Act by omitting asset details, nullifying the GB Chief Court's order and upholding the election tribunal's disqualification.

A World Bank report on the NFC Award post-18th Amendment highlights that 80% of provincial spending in health and education goes toward salaries, with minimal improvement in service indicators. Local government funding has declined significantly, and provinces have failed to establish fair distribution mechanisms, while political parties have entrenched power in their respective provinces through patronage systems.

Amjad Hussain was sworn in as chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan following the June 7 elections, where the PPP secured 12 seats in the 24-member assembly. The PPP formed a government with PML-N's support, though PML-N remains in opposition. The swearing-in ceremony, initially scheduled for July 1, was postponed due to Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari's attendance at Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's funeral in Iran.

The PPP's candidate selection for AJK elections faces legal challenges over Asim Sharif Butt's disputed State Subject status. PML-N's Syed Shoukat Ali Shah plans to seek contempt proceedings against PPP leadership for awarding a ticket to Butt, whose certificate was declared invalid by official inquiries. The PPP also reversed candidate decisions in two constituencies.

A Lahore court extended the pre-arrest bail of PML-N MPA Saqib Chadhar and his wife until July 13, following allegations of harassing television actress Momina Iqbal. The case emerged after Iqbal's social media appeal highlighted claims of online harassment and threats, prompting investigations by NCCIA and a police FIR.