The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections are underway, with polling continuing in eight out of the nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division. The second phase of the polls has been extended by an hour due to heavy rain in the area.
Polling started at 8am and was set to continue till 5pm initially but has now been postponed until 6pm. Eight out of the nine constituencies are up for grabs, with over 300 candidates vying for the Muzaffarabad seats and 12 refugee seats across different regions.
The electoral process in LA-27 (Muzaffarabad-I) was suspended due to heavy rain, but it has been extended by an hour till 6pm. Over 4 other seats are also up for grabs in Muzaffarabad district, with two each in Neelum and Jhelum Valley.
The PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has accused the PML-N of “robbing” votes in the second phase of the AJK elections. He condemned an “attack” on party’s regional president Chaudhry Latif Akbar, also a candidate for LA-31 (Muzaffarabad-V), and alleged that PPP worker Mushtaq Shah was killed.
Bilawal demanded that those responsible be arrested immediately. The PPP has shared a complaint to the Election Commission regarding a “physical assault” on its Akbar candidate, who is accused of being engaged in the electoral process on polling day when an incident allegedly took place.
The AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore has taken notice of the incident and ordered the chief secretary and police chief to take those responsible to justice. The AJK PM termed the attack “a slap on the politics of dignity and principle in Kashmir”.
Polls are being held in three phases over security concerns, with the first set of polls concluded earlier today in Mirpur division as part of a one-phase election that was postponed due to security concerns.
Internet services were restored in parts of Muzaffarabad division after remaining suspended for 54 days on July 29. The AJK CEC said that a letter had been written yesterday to request the restoration of internet services, but it is unclear whether the restoration covered the entire division or was limited to the state capital.
The outcome of today’s polls will be known soon, with official sources indicating that 25 polling stations have been set up in Gujar Khan Tehsil and 24 in Jhelum District. Polling has continued peacefully at these locations, where ballots are being cast for refugee seats.
As part of the second phase of the AJK elections, three phases were held earlier this month, with polls concluded on July 27 across Mirpur division as a one-phase election was postponed due to security concerns.
Based on reporting from Dawn.
