Summary Polling is underway on 21 seats in the second phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, with over 1.2 million voters casting ballots under tight security.
MUZAFFARABAD (Dunya News) - Polling is underway for the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, with voters casting ballots for 21 constituencies amid strict security arrangements across the region.
According to Election Commission officials, voting began at 8am and will continue uninterrupted until 5pm. Polling is being held for nine seats in the Muzaffarabad Division and 12 refugee constituencies.
A close contest is expected between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). A total of 208 candidates are contesting the Muzaffarabad Division seats, while 143 candidates are in the race for the refugee constituencies.
More than 1.2 million registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots. The Election Commission has established 1,483 polling stations and 2,219 polling booths for the voting process. Constituencies LA-28, LA-29 and LA-31 have been declared highly sensitive.
Security has been tightened, with eight personnel deployed at highly sensitive polling stations, six at sensitive stations, and four at normal polling stations.
A total of 25 political parties, including PML-N, PPP and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), along with independent candidates, are participating in the elections.
Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal urged voters to exercise their democratic right, saying all arrangements have been completed to ensure peaceful, transparent and fair elections.
The Election Commission said the third phase of the AJK elections will be held in Poonch Division on August 10, with all necessary preparations already completed.
