Pakistan's ruling party leads in Kashmir vote despite boycott call by banned group
Pakistan's ruling party, the Pakistan Muslim League-N, has secured a significant lead in the legislative assembly elections for Pakistan-administered Kashmir. Despite security concerns and boycott calls from a banned group, the election is proceeding in phases.
Why it matters
The election results in the disputed Kashmir region have significant geopolitical implications for the relationship between Pakistan and India.
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan's ruling party has taken a commanding lead in elections for the legislative assembly in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, results from the first two phases of voting showed on Wednesday, despite weeks of protests and calls for a boycott by a banned political group.
Candidates backed by twice-elected former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-N party have won 24 of the 34 seats decided in the first two phases of voting, said Raja Shakeel, a spokesman for the regional election commission. Turnout exceeded 56% in the regional capital.
Shakee said voting for the remaining 11 seats is scheduled for Aug. 10, but the party is already on course to form the next regional government.
It marks the party's return to power in Pakistan-administered Kashmir after a decade.
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