ISLAMABAD:
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal announced on Tuesday that the upcoming AJK elections would begin on July 27 as scheduled, but polling would now be held in three phases across different divisions, with the armed forces deployed to oversee the electoral process.
“Under the revised schedule, polling in Mirpur Division will be held on July 27, while Muzaffarabad Division and the 12 refugee constituencies will go to the polls on August 2. Elections in Poonch Division will take place on August 10,” Mughal said while speaking at a press conference in Muzaffarabad.
He further said that the elections would be held under the supervision of the armed forces.
The announcement came at a politically charged time, with election campaigns entering their final week and authorities racing to complete logistical and security preparations for one of the most closely watched elections in the region.
A day earlier, AJK took a significant step towards its July 27 Legislative Assembly elections as for government employees on election duty concluded peacefully in eight districts, with an overwhelming voter turnout and election authorities declaring themselves fully prepared to conduct what they pledged would be free, fair and transparent elections.
The special polling exercise, regarded as the election commission’s first major test ahead of polling day, was held in all districts except Rawalakot and Sudhnoti, where voting was postponed because of security concerns. Despite the exceptions, officials described the process as smooth, orderly and incident-free, with voter turnout exceeding 80 per cent in almost every district where polling took place.
With less than a week remaining before polling, both the PML-N and PPP have stepped up their campaigns with senior national leaders making high-profile appearances in a bid to galvanise supporters and vote banks ahead of the contest for the 45-member AJK Legislative Assembly.
