MUZAFFARABAD: The first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections concluded on Monday across 13 constituencies in Mirpur Division, with authorities extending polling by one hour before voting ended at 6pm and counting began.
A total of 296 candidates, including contenders from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) and independent hopefuls, were in the running for seats in Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber districts.
According to election officials, 1,401,439 registered voters were eligible to cast their ballots in the first phase of the elections. The electorate comprised 725,118 men and 675,628 women.
The AJK Election Commission established 2,454 polling stations across Mirpur Division, including 597 in Mirpur district’s four constituencies, 1,107 in six constituencies of Kotli district and 608 in three constituencies of Bhimber district.
Authorities said extensive security measures had been put in place to ensure the smooth conduct of the polls.
AJK Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal warned that strict legal action would be taken against anyone attempting to disrupt the electoral process.
Separately, AJK Chief Secretary Khushhal Khan said the people of Azad Kashmir had rejected “disruptive elements” and expressed confidence in the democratic process.
He added that all state institutions were fully prepared to ensure peaceful elections and warned that the law would take its course against anyone attempting to obstruct the electoral process or disturb public order.
Firing incident
One person was killed and three others injured in a shooting incident at a polling station in LA-9 Kotli-II Nakyal, police said.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Kamran Ali confirmed the fatality, while police said polling was suspended at the polling station following the incident.
PPP candidate Javed Budhanvi identified the deceased as Mukhtar Younis, a party worker, adding that his body had been shifted to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed grief over the death and extended condolences to the victim’s family.
In a statement, he alleged that gunfire had been opened by supporters of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Umair Niazi, resulting in the death of his party worker.
Polling largely peaceful: Sanaullah
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said polling in AJK remained largely peaceful, with only one major untoward incident reported during the electoral process.
In a statement, he said a few minor incidents had occurred, but apart from the firing incident, no significant disruptions were reported.
He added that overall arrangements for polling across AJK were satisfactory.
Sanaullah also noted that hot weather conditions prevailed in the region during the day and suggested extending polling hours to facilitate voters.
PPP slams PML-N
PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman condemned what she described as the PML-N’s attempts to make the Azad Kashmir elections controversial, alleging that the party was doing so out of fear of defeat.
She said the people of Kashmir were politically aware and capable of making their own decisions, adding that the relationship between the Kashmiri people and the PPP spanned many years.
Rehman questioned why the PML-N objected if the people of Kashmir wanted to vote for the PPP, asserting that the party could not snatch the public mandate through what she termed underhand tactics.
She maintained that regardless of the methods employed by the PML-N, victory would belong to the PPP.
PPP Information Secretary Shazia Marri said the people of Kashmir would deliver their verdict through the elections.
She described the PPP’s arrow election symbol as a symbol of hope for the people of Mirpur and claimed that rival parties’ camps were silent ahead of the vote.
In a video message alongside his sister Asifa Bhutto-Zardari, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari urged voters to come out and cast their ballots if they wanted Kashmir’s future to be decided by the Kashmiri people.
He appealed to voters to stamp the PPP’s arrow symbol and ensure the party’s candidates were elected.
Separately, senior PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan expressed concerns over what he alleged was federal interference and the use of official resources in the Azad Kashmir elections.
He called for the polls to be conducted in a free, fair and transparent manner and urged the federal government and its machinery to refrain from any form of interference in the electoral process.
Ballot box set on fire
In LA-6 Bhimber, a clash broke out between workers of two political parties at the Darbar Baba Shadi Shaheed polling station.
PML-N candidate Abdul Razzaq Chaudhry alleged that workers of the rival party started the altercation. He also claimed that IPP workers created a disturbance at Polling Station No. 95.
According to Chaudhry, polling was suspended at both polling stations following the incidents.
The District Returning Officer (DRO) confirmed that a clash had been reported at a polling station in Darbar Baba Shadi Shaheed.
The DRO said miscreants snatched a ballot box and set it on fire, adding that the box contained 232 votes.
The returning officer and security personnel were present at the polling station, while legal action would be taken against those involved.
The DRO said a decision on whether re-polling would be held at the affected polling station would be made later. He added that the situation remained normal at all other polling stations.
The DRO further said that former prime minister Anwarul Haq had also lodged a complaint regarding LA-7. He said he personally visited the polling stations where complaints had been raised and that Anwarul Haq’s polling agents were present there.
