Advance polling sees over 80pc turnout among AJK election staff

MUZAFFARABAD: More than four in five government employees assigned polling duties for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections voted on Monday in advance polling held across 26 territorial constituencies, according to election officials.

Election Commission Secretary Raja Mohammad Shakeel said 24,107 government employees had been deployed for election work in those constituencies and around 80 per cent cast their ballots in what he described as a peaceful and orderly process. He said advance polling took place in 26 seats after voting in one Sudhnoti constituency was cancelled following the death of an independent candidate.

The commission had initially fixed July 20 for advance voting by election staff in the remaining 32 territorial constituencies. However, polling in five constituencies of Poonch district and one constituency of Sudhnoti was later deferred because of the prevailing law and order situation, Mr Shakeel said.

Election officials review arrangements

Chief Election Commissioner retired Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal visited polling stations at the district headquarters complex in Muzaffarabad to inspect arrangements and review turnout. He was accompanied by Senior Member Khawaja Mohammad Ahsen, Member Syed Nazeerul Hassan Gillani, Secretary Raja Mohammad Shakeel and other officials.

Separate booths were arranged for male and female government employees. Security and oversight at the polling stations were maintained by male and female police personnel along with duty magistrates throughout the day.

Talking to reporters, Mr Mughal praised the participation of government employees and said he hoped the rest of the election process would also proceed in a peaceful and orderly manner. He said the conduct of advance polling showed the commission was prepared for the July 27 elections.

“There is no question of delaying the elections. The polls will be held on schedule under all circumstances, and no attempt to disrupt the democratic process will be allowed to succeed,” he said.

Mr Mughal also said government employees exercised their right to vote without any major untoward incident and commended coordination between the Election Commission, district administrations and law enforcement agencies. He added that security planning for polling day had been completed, with the Pakistan Army, Rangers and the Quick Response Force included in the arrangements.

Material dispatched, ballots sealed

Senior Member Khawaja Mohammad Ahsen told reporters that election material had already been dispatched to returning officers and the remaining logistical preparations were moving ahead on schedule. With one week left before voters elect members of the Legislative Assembly, he said the advance polling process had served as an important operational test for the commission’s wider election arrangements.

Later, Member Syed Nazeerul Hassan Gillani told journalists that ballot boxes used in the advance polling were sealed under the prescribed legal procedure and then handed over to the relevant returning officers under strict security. “The votes cast by government employees will remain sealed until July 27, when they will be counted along with ballots cast on election day,” he added.