MUZAFFARABAD, Jan 1: Ruling Muslim Conference candidate Shamim Mallick was elected to the AJK Legislative Assembly here on Sunday against a vacant seat reserved for women. The seat had fallen vacant due to the death of Ms Shireen Waheed, AJK minister for social welfare and women development, in the Oct 8 earthquake.

Ms Mallick clinched 21 votes whereas her rival Nabila Ayub of the Peoples Party bagged 11 votes. Eight voters abstained due to bad weather and other reasons.

Polling was held in the AJK Legislative Assembly building. Election Commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Nasim was polling officer while secretary election commission Iftikhar Naveed was returning officer.

Prominent among those who cast their vote were AJK Prime Minister Sardar Sikandar Hayat, MC president Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan and PPAJK president Sahibzada Mohammad Ishaq Zaffar.

Ms Mallick, currently vice president of ruling party’s women wing, had also been member of the district council Muzaffarabad for two terms between 1986 and 1996. She will administered oath of office by speaker Sardar Siab Khalid on Monday.