Sharif’s PML-N wins 9 out of 13 seats in first phase of PoK polls amid rigging allegations
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secured a majority in the first phase of elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir amid allegations of rigging from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP). The election process has been marked by violence and ongoing political tension regarding the region's status.
Why it matters
The election results and the associated allegations of rigging have significant implications for regional stability and the long-standing geopolitical dispute between India and Pakistan.
The military-backed Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won nine out of 13 seats in the first phase of elections held in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, the Election Commission said on Tuesday (July 28, 2026).
There were allegations of massive rigging in the first phase of the polls held on Monday (July 27, 2026), in which the Pakistan’s People Party (PPP) won the remaining seats.
Both parties are coalition partners at the federal level.
The elections for 45 contesting seats in the so-called Legislative Assembly in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir are happening in three phases between July 27 and August 10.
India maintains that the entire Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of it. New Delhi also asserts that Pakistan has been in “illegal and forcible occupation” of parts of these Union Territories.
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