Polling underway for first phase of AJK elections across Mirpur division

Mirpur (Web Desk): The first phase of elections for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly commenced on Monday, with voters heading to polling stations across 13 constituencies in the Mirpur Division to elect their representatives.

Polling started at 8:00am and is scheduled to continue until 5:00pm. A total of 296 candidates are in the contest, representing the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), as well as a number of independent hopefuls.

Election authorities said that 1,401,439 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the constituencies located in Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber districts. The electoral roll includes 725,118 male voters and 675,628 female voters.

To facilitate the voting process, officials have established 2,454 polling stations throughout the division. Mirpur district's four constituencies have been allocated 597 polling stations, while Kotli's six constituencies have 1,107 polling stations. Another 608 polling stations have been set up across Bhimber's three constituencies.

Authorities said extensive security measures have been deployed to ensure that polling remains peaceful and transparent throughout the day.

AJK Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal warned that anyone attempting to interfere with or disrupt the electoral process would face legal consequences.

Separately, AJK Chief Secretary Khushhal Khan said the people of Azad Kashmir had dismissed what he termed disruptive forces and reaffirmed their trust in democracy. He said all government institutions were fully prepared to conduct peaceful elections and stressed that strict legal action would be taken against anyone trying to obstruct voting or disturb law and order.

Meanwhile, PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman accused the PML-N of attempting to cast doubt on the credibility of the elections because it feared defeat at the ballot box. She said the people of Kashmir were politically aware and capable of making independent decisions, adding that the PPP shared a longstanding bond with the people of the region.

Rehman questioned why the PML-N was objecting if voters chose to support the PPP, arguing that the public's mandate could not be taken away through what she described as unfair tactics. She expressed confidence that the PPP would ultimately emerge victorious.

PPP Information Secretary Shazia Marri also said the people of Kashmir would determine the outcome through their votes. Describing the PPP's arrow symbol as a sign of hope for Mirpur's residents, she claimed that rival parties had shown little campaign activity ahead of polling day.

In a separate video message featuring his sister Asifa Bhutto-Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari appealed to voters to participate in the election if they wanted the future of Kashmir to remain in the hands of its own people.

He urged supporters to vote for the PPP by stamping the party's arrow symbol and helping its candidates secure success at the polls.