MUZAFFARABAD — Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidate Khawaja Farooq has claimed victory in the LA-29 Muzaffarabad City 3 constituency, according to unofficial results pouring in from polling stations across the district.
The win marks a significant hold for the party in the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Supporters have already begun gathering outside the returning officer’s office as vote counts from the final polling stations confirm a lead that opponents can no longer bridge.
The race for LA-29 was billed as a high-stakes contest. Voter turnout remained steady throughout the day, with long queues forming in urban pockets despite the sweltering heat. The constituency, known for its politically active demographic, saw a direct clash between the PTI’s established base and a unified push from the opposition alliance.
Khawaja Farooq’s campaign focused heavily on infrastructure development and the promise of local administrative reforms. While his rivals questioned the efficacy of the current provincial government’s policies, Farooq maintained that continuity was the only path to completing pending projects in the city.
Early reports suggest the margin of victory is decisive enough to quell immediate allegations of electoral malpractice, though opposition agents on the ground have raised minor complaints regarding the speed of ballot transmission from remote mountain villages. Election officials have dismissed these as procedural delays rather than systematic irregularities.
The atmosphere in Muzaffarabad remains tense but celebratory. Police have increased patrols around the city center to prevent clashes between rival political workers as official confirmation is awaited from the Election Commission.
For the PTI, this win provides a much-needed boost in the region’s legislative assembly. For the people of Muzaffarabad, the focus now shifts from the campaign trail to the promises made during the last three weeks of intense canvassing.
Farooq is expected to address supporters late tonight, where he will likely outline his immediate priorities for the city’s urban development budget.
