Prime Minister Imran Khan has thanked the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) for voting for his party in Sunday’s poll which helped the ruling PTI clinch at least 25 out of 45 seats of the regional assembly, as per the unofficial results.

“I want to thank the ppl [people] of AJK for placing their trust in PTI through their votes which resulted in PTI's electoral victory,” the premier said in a tweet from his official handle on Monday.

PM Imran expressed resolve that his party will focus on bringing the people of AJK out of poverty through his government’s flagship programmes — ‘Ehsaas and Kamayab Naujawan Programme’.

He also pledged that he will establish accountability and transparency in the regional government.

“I want to congratulate all our successful candidates. As ambassador for Kashmir I will continue to raise my voice on all international forums including UN to ensure the international community fulfils its commitment of self-determination to the Kashmiri people through an UN-sponsored plebiscite,” he said in a follow-up tweet.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) came in second with 11 seats while the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) bagged six seats in yesterday’s elections.

According to the unofficial results, the turnout was recorded at around 62%. More than 700 candidates from 32 political and religious parties contested for the 45 general seats.

The Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Party and the (JKPP) and the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (AJK-MC) managed to bag one seat each according to the unofficial results.

Out of the eight reserved seats, five are for women and three seats, one each for religious scholars, technocrats, and overseas Kashmiris. The members for these seats are nominated after the elections.