Maryam Nawaz urges PPP to accept AJK poll verdict, claims victory reflects public trust

• CM says Mirpur voters chose development, welfare and a better future over ‘political allegations’

• Challenges PPP’s rigging claims, saying elections are decided by voters, not governments

• Highlights Punjab’s development model, pledging to replicate reforms in Azad Kashmir if elected

• PML-N secures nine of 13 seats in first phase of Mirur Division

 LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday hailed what she described as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) “resounding victory” in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections in Mirpur Division, thanking Allah for the outcome and urging the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) to respect the public mandate instead of alleging electoral rigging.

Congratulating the people of Mirpur and Kotli, the chief minister said they had made the “best decision” by voting for development and a better future for their children.

"شاید آپ کو یاد دہانی کی ضرورت پڑے کہ آزاد جموں و کشمیر کے جو الیکشنز ہوتے ہیں اس سے پہلے انٹیریم گورنمنٹ نہیں بنتی تو آپ دھاندلی کا الزام کس پہ لگا رہے ہیں۔ وہاں پہ مسلم لیگ (نواز) کا تو پرائم منسٹر نہیں تھا تو کیا آپ اپنی حکومت کے خلاف دھاندلی کا الزام لگا رہے ہیں ۔ اگر آپ… pic.twitter.com/52M6d3PoU4

— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) July 28, 2026

“The people did not merely stamp the lion; they voted for their own success and the development of Azad Kashmir,” she said, expressing confidence that the first-phase results would influence voting trends across the remaining constituencies.

Maryam Nawaz also congratulated PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying the electorate had listened to, understood and endorsed the party’s message and the commitments made by Nawaz Sharif. She further appreciated the efforts of Rana Sanaullah, Amir Muqam and party workers for conducting what she termed a successful election campaign.

"آپ اپنی کارکردگی پر غور کریں۔ جن کی اپنی سڑکیں ٹوٹی ہوئی ہیں وہ آزاد کشمیر کی سڑکیں کیسے بنائیں گے؟ جو بھی سندھ سے آتا ہے وہ پنجاب کا وزیرِ اعلیٰ مانگتا ہے۔ وہ بھی ترقی مانگتے ہیں۔" وزیرِ اعلیٰ پنجاب مریم نواز شریف کا پیپلز پارٹی کو خود احتسابی کا مشورہ۔
وزیرِ اعلیٰ پنجاب مریم… pic.twitter.com/1w2exqMTHD

— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) July 28, 2026

The Punjab chief minister said the PML-N had secured nine of the 13 key seats contested in the first phase and voiced confidence that the party would also emerge victorious in the remaining constituencies.

Expressing disappointment over the reaction of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, she said the PPP should have accepted the election results in the true spirit of democracy instead of using what she called “inappropriate language” and making allegations of rigging.

"الیکشن تقریروں میں سارا الزام وفاقی حکومت پر ڈالنے کی کوشش کی گئی۔ حالانکہ پچھلے ایک سال سے آزاد کشمیر میں حکومت پیپلز پارٹی کی ہے۔ کارکردگی آپ کے پاس ہے نہیں اور آپ دھاندلی کا رونا رو رہے ہیں۔ پیپلز پارٹی کے امیدواروں کی دھاندلی کی ویڈیوز سوشل میڈیا پر وائرل ہو چکی ہیں۔ عوامی… pic.twitter.com/N4OylJnU5w

— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) July 28, 2026

She maintained that election outcomes were determined by the people rather than the state, recalling that the PML-N had accepted the PPP’s victory in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections without questioning the process. “When you won Gilgit-Baltistan, we accepted the result wholeheartedly. Now that you have lost Mirpur, you are alleging rigging,” she said.

CM Maryam Nawaz claimed the contrast between the public rallies of the PPP and the PML-N was clearly visible, alleging that PPP gatherings had remained largely unattended. She said the PPP lacked a convincing narrative, a credible performance record and a practical programme for the people of Azad Kashmir, besides having no reform agenda or governance achievements to present before voters.

"صوبہ سندھ میں 17 سال سے آپ کی حکومت ہے اس کے باوجود آپ کے پاس کوئی پروجیکٹ کوئی مواد بتانے کے لئے نہیں تھا۔ ہم جہاں بھی گئے ہم نے ایک ہی بات سنی کہ ہمیں پنجاب جیسی سہولیات چاہیے ۔ پنجاب کی سہولیات ان لوگوں کو دینے کے لیے اڑھائی سال بہت سخت محنت کی ہے ۔ آزاد جموں و کشمیر کے عوام… pic.twitter.com/2jw0NnJg1r

— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) July 28, 2026

Referring to Sindh, where the PPP has remained in power for 17 consecutive years, she alleged that the party had failed to showcase any significant development projects or present a comprehensive roadmap despite enjoying uninterrupted rule. According to her, the province continued to struggle with broken roads, weak infrastructure and inadequate public services.

“The PPP neither understands the people nor their needs, and the people, in turn, have failed to understand the PPP,” she said, adding that political rhetoric alone could no longer secure electoral victories in an era where voters judged governments by their performance.

Describing today's youth as politically aware and informed, the chief minister said voters were no longer persuaded by complaints or allegations. She criticised Bilawal Bhutto for targeting senior political leaders during the campaign, arguing that parties possessing a strong manifesto and a proven record of governance did not need to rely on personal attacks.

"پیپلز پارٹی کے ردِ عمل پر بہت افسوس ہوا۔ گلگت بلتستان میں عوام نے آپ کے حق میں فیصلہ کیا جس پر مسلم لیگ (ن) نے آپ کو مبارکباد دی اور سپورٹ کیا۔ آزاد کشمیر میں بری طرح ہارے تو آپ نے دھاندلی کا شور مچانا شروع کر دیا۔"
وزیرِ اعلیٰ پنجاب مریم نواز شریف نے پیپلز پارٹی کو آئینہ دکھا… pic.twitter.com/XmUZFuhrDz

— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) July 28, 2026

She said the electorate had endorsed welfare and development initiatives launched by the PML-N government, including the Green Tractor Scheme, the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar programme, Apna Khet, employment initiatives, the Kisan Card, road infrastructure projects, broader development schemes and improvements in law and order.

The chief minister further said Bilawal Bhutto had repeatedly criticised the federal government throughout the election campaign while overlooking the fact that the PPP itself had been governing Azad Kashmir for the past year. She alleged that the deterioration witnessed in the region had taken place during the PPP's tenure.

Calling the repeated allegations of rigging “regrettable”, CM Maryam Nawaz claimed that videos circulating on social media showed bags of votes allegedly recovered from the homes of PPP candidates. She challenged the PPP to produce similar evidence against the PML-N.

She urged the PPP to respect the people's mandate and appealed to Bilawal Bhutto to focus on improving governance in Sindh. According to her, people coming from Sindh often expressed a desire for a province like Punjab and a Karachi comparable to Lahore in terms of development.

The chief minister maintained that Punjab's progress was the result of sustained hard work and consistent governance, urging the PPP leadership to devote greater attention to improving roads, hospitals, law and order, and other essential public services in Sindh.

"سب سے پہلے میں اللّٰہ تعالیٰ کا بہت عاجزی کے ساتھ شکر ادا کرتی ہوں کہ اللّٰہ تعالیٰ نے مسلم لیگ (ن) کو میرپور ڈویژن کے الیکشن میں بہت زبردست کامیابی عطا فرمائی۔ میں میرپور، کوٹلی اور بھمبر کے عوام کو دل کی گہرائیوں سے مبارکباد دینا چاہتی ہوں کہ انہوں نے اپنے بچوں کے بہترین… pic.twitter.com/0pfYgbM114

— Government of Punjab (@GovtofPunjabPK) July 28, 2026

Maryam Nawaz said the PML-N had pledged to make Azad Kashmir like Punjab, whereas the PPP, despite ruling Sindh for 17 years, had never claimed it would transform Azad Kashmir into Sindh. She added that Karachi's deteriorating conditions were known around the world.

She further pointed out that no caretaker government had been in place during the AJK elections and that the PPP had contested the polls while already in power in the territory. “The PML-N was not in government in Azad Kashmir. Think before making allegations, as you are effectively accusing your own government of rigging,” she said.

The chief minister reiterated that governments were ultimately judged by their performance rather than complaints, adding that people cast their votes for development, public welfare projects and a better future for coming generations.

She urged the PPP to improve its governance and performance in Sindh so that it could earn public support through tangible achievements instead of criticism of political opponents.

Assuring the people of Azad Kashmir that the PML-N would begin serving them without delay if elected, Maryam Nawaz said reforms introduced in Punjab would also be implemented in the territory. She pledged that essential public services and facilities would be delivered to citizens at their doorstep.

The Punjab chief minister appealed to voters in the remaining phases of the AJK elections, scheduled for Aug 2 and Aug 10, to support the PML-N “for the sake of development and progress.”