Sardar Ziaul Qamar of the People’s Party has clinched victory in the by-election on Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly constituency LA-15 Bagh-2, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Thursday.

As per unofficial results, Sardar Ziaul Qamar got 22,619 votes, followed by Mushtaq Minhas who bagged 17,321 votes. Mushtaq Minhas was representing Nawaz League.

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Co-chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari congratulated the party members and the candidate on the victory. He expressed his gratitude to the voters for reposing trust in the party

The seat fell vacant following the disqualification of ex-prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas by AJK High Court in a contempt of court case. Polling started at 8 am in the morning and lasted in the evening without any break.

Reportedly, the constituency has 101,186 voters, including 48,038 women. The commission set up 189 polling stations and out of which 29 polling stations have been declared as sensitive and 20 highly sensitive. The administration has decided to deploy over 2,578 police officials and 600 Rangers and FC personnel to maintain law and order.