Nawaz Sharif calls for political tolerance following AJK elections

Nawaz Sharif, President of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has called for political tolerance, stating that while rivalry is a normal part of politics, it should not escalate into personal enmity or hostility. Speaking at a party meeting in Murree attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Sharif addressed the recent elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

Sharif expressed concern regarding the political environment surrounding the AJK polls, attributing the tension to the failure of previous governments to fulfill their responsibilities. He noted that the PML-N has secured a majority in the first two phases of the election with 24 seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has won 10 seats. The results for the third phase are still pending.

The PPP has raised objections and alleged election rigging, with Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari warning that the federal government’s ‘countdown has begun.’ Despite these tensions, Sharif emphasized that the PML-N intends to form the AJK government and fulfill its election promises, including calls for increased federal funding for the region's development and welfare.