Polling opens in first phase of AJK elections across Mirpur division

MUZAFFARABAD: Voting began on Monday in the first phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections across 13 constituencies of Mirpur division, with authorities deploying a heavy security apparatus and declaring a public holiday in Bhimber, Mirpur and Kotli districts.

Polling started at 8am and will continue until 5pm. A total of 288 candidates are in the field in the opening phase of the three-stage electoral exercise, which is being spread out over security concerns.

The Election Commission said voting is being conducted at 2,316 polling stations. Of these, 1,241 have been classified as highly sensitive and 724 as sensitive. Election monitoring has been arranged through 13 zones and 205 sectors across the division.

Under a three-tier security plan, 18,560 personnel from police and other law enforcement agencies have been deployed, while around 2,100 army personnel will also be on duty. Police will form the first security layer, Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) and the Federal Constabulary the second, and the Pakistan Army the third. Quick Response Force teams have also been kept on standby for any emergency.

Appeal to voters, warning to disruptors

On Sunday, AJK Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal urged more than 1.4 million registered voters to come out in large numbers and elect their representatives. In a video message, he said elaborate arrangements had been made, including security for voters travelling to and from polling stations.

Justice Mughal warned that anyone attempting to disturb the polling process would face strict legal action. AJK Chief Secretary Khushal Khan also cautioned against any move to disrupt voting or disturb public order afterwards.

The warning came after the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee announced on social media a planned long march from Mirpur division towards Muzaffarabad on Sunday. Umar Nazir Kashmiri, a core member of the JAAC, had said caravans would gather at the Rawalakot sit-in before moving towards Muzaffarabad after Zuhr prayers on election day.

However, a Mirpur police official said on Sunday evening that not a single person had turned up anywhere to join any Rawalakot-bound rally.

Next phases in August

The remaining phases of the AJK polls are scheduled for August 2 and August 10. The second phase will cover nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division and all 12 refugee constituencies, while the third will be held in 11 constituencies of Poonch division.

The campaign before the first phase also drew national party leaders into Mirpur, with Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif both canvassing in the run-up to the vote.

At a rally in Mirpur on Friday, Nawaz said Kashmir should not be mistaken for Kashmore, nor Mirpur for Mirpurkhas. Responding on Sunday, Bilawal said that whether it was Kashmir or Kashmore, Mirpur or Mirpurkhas, their residents were “not ready to bargain away their rights”. Referring to announcements of electric buses and hospitals on wheels ahead of the election, he said, “Something built with the public’s money is not a gift from any politician — it is the public’s right.”