MUZAFFARABAD: More than 3.2 million registered voters will exercise their right to vote to elect their representatives for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly on Sunday.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has emerged as the most popular party in AJK, according to a survey of Gallup Pakistan.
The survey said that 44 percent people in AJK think that PTI will win the election while PML-N has 12 percent and PPP 9 percent popularity. Both PML-N and PPP have collective 21 percent popularity as compared to 44 percent of PTI.
According to the survey, Prime Minister Imran Khan appeared as the most trusted political leader in the survey with 67 percent positive rating, Bilawal Bhutto with 49 percent followed by Shahbaz Sharif with 48 percent. Maryam Nawaz has 44 percent popularity. Moreover, mostly Kashmiri people were of the view that Sunday’s election would be free, transparent and fair, said the survey.
Meanwhile, the polling process will begin at 0800 hours and continue till 1700 hours without any break. The AJK Election Commission has finalised all arrangements to hold free, fair, and transparent elections. All-out security arrangements have also been made so that voters could cast their vote in a peaceful manner without any fear and pressure.
The Kashmiris living in any city of Pakistan will exercise their vote to choose their candidates on 12 constituencies meant of Jammu and Kashmir refugees settled in various parts of Pakistan.
A total of 587 candidates are contesting the elections in 33 constituencies of Azad Kashmir districts and 121 candidates in 12 constituencies of Jammu and Kashmir refugees settled in Pakistan.
Over 40,000 security personnel of Pakistan Army, FC, Rangers and police will perform duties to ensure peaceful polling.
A total of 5,118 polling stations have been set up in all three divisions, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, and Mirpur. Out of the total 830 polling stations are very sensitive while 1,269 are sensitive. The election schedule for 8 reserved seats will be announced after the general elections.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has directed commissioners Muzaffarabad, Poonch, and Mirpur Divisions to dispatch presiding officers and other election staff to the polling stations concerned in full security. Similarly, at the end of polling, presiding officers along with polling bags would be escorted in full security up to the office of the returning officer concerned so as to ensure fair and transparent elections.
The security staff will be present up to the official declaration of the results at the offices of the district and returning officers.
According to the media code of conduct issued by the Election Commission, entry pass holders would be allowed for coverage.
On the other hand, in Punjab, all necessary electoral, administrative and security arrangements have been finalised to ensure holding of free, fair and transparent Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections on nine seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees.
Meanwhile, in Lahore, polling will be held for two constituencies LA-34 Jammu One and LA-41 Kashmir Valley Two. A total of 9,194 registered voters will use their right of vote in these two Lahore constituencies, where 25 polling stations have been set up.
Strict security measures will be taken and under the finalised security plan to ensure a peaceful polling environment and avoid any untoward incident at polling stations. All coronavirus related standard operating procedures (SOPs) will also be strictly implemented inside and outside all polling stations in the province.
