The Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) is on course to secure its first-ever representation in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly, with its candidate holding a narrow lead in the closely contested LA-27 Kotla constituency following delayed polling and vote counting.

Polling was completed on Tuesday in LA-27 Kotla and partially in LA-28 Lachhrat, where voting had been postponed due to heavy rainfall, landslides and logistical challenges during the second phase of the AJK general elections. Security was tightened across both constituencies to ensure peaceful polling.

According to unofficial results, Sardar Tabarak Ali of the IPP was leading in Kotla with 18,543 votes, narrowly ahead of PML-N candidate Noreen Arif, who secured 18,351 votes. The margin stood at just 192 votes, while 641 postal ballots cast by government employees were still to be counted, leaving the outcome uncertain. PPP candidate Sardar Javed Ayub remained in third place with 16,919 votes.

In LA-28 Lachhrat, the contest also remained tight, with PML-N candidate Chaudhry Shehzad leading PPP candidate Bazal Ali Naqvi by 499 votes, although results from a few polling stations were still awaited. Overall voter turnout in the two constituencies was estimated at around 60%.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) alleged irregularities at a polling station in Kotla and submitted a formal complaint to the AJK Election Commission, calling for an investigation. The outcome of the remaining seats is expected to influence the final composition of the new AJK Legislative Assembly, where PML-N has already emerged as the largest party based on results announced so far.