MUZAFFARABAD: Polling for the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) general elections began on Monday in four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli districts, with more than 460,000 registered voters eligible to cast their ballots.
According to the Election Commission officials, polling started at 8am and will continue without any break until 5pm. The constituencies going to the polls in the third phase are LA-14, LA-15, LA-16 and LA-17.
A total of 82 candidates are contesting the four constituencies, with a close contest expected between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
The Election Commission has made arrangements for voters to exercise their right to vote, while polling officials and other election personnel have been deployed at polling stations across the constituencies.
According to the Chief Election Commissioner, elections in constituencies located in Poonch and Sudhanoti have been postponed. The polling in those constituencies will be held at a later date in accordance with the revised election schedule.
The third phase is being held after the completion of polling in other parts of AJK. In the first phase, elections were held for 13 seats in the Mirpur division, with the PML-N securing nine seats and the PPP winning four.
In the second phase, elections were held for nine seats in the Muzaffarabad division along with 12 seats reserved for refugees. The PML-N won 15 of these seats, while the PPP secured six.
The latest phase is therefore being closely watched as the two major political parties seek to strengthen their position in the AJK legislative assembly.
With polling continuing until 5pm, voters in Bagh and Haveli will decide the representatives for their respective constituencies. Election authorities have urged voters to participate peacefully and exercise their democratic right according to the prescribed procedures.
