Muzaffarabad: Election campaigning has officially ended in 13 constituencies across the three districts of Mirpur Division as preparations enter the final stage for the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections.
Under the election schedule, campaigning concluded at midnight, while the distribution of election materials to polling stations is set to begin today (Sunday) ahead of polling on 27 July.
The first phase of the elections will be held in 13 constituencies spread across the districts of Mirpur, Kotli, and Bhimber.
According to election officials, a total of 1,401,439 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots in these constituencies. The electorate includes 725,118 male voters and 675,628 female voters.
To facilitate voting, authorities have established 2,454 polling stations across Mirpur Division. Of these, 597 polling stations are located in the four constituencies of Mirpur district, 1,107 polling stations in the six constituencies of Kotli district, and 608 polling stations in the three constituencies of Bhimber district.
The election will see 296 candidates contesting the 13 seats. Candidates represent major political parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), as well as a number of independent candidates.
Political observers expect particularly close contests in LA-3 Mirpur, LA-6 Bhimber, and LA-10 Kotli, where candidates from the PPP, PML-N, and IPP are considered strong contenders.
Meanwhile, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) has announced its full support for the PML-N in the Azad Kashmir elections.
As part of efforts to secure political backing, a PML-N delegation led by provincial president Bashir Memon visited MQM-P’s headquarters in Bahadurabad, Karachi, where they met senior MQM-P leaders, including Dr Farooq Sattar, and other party officials.
Following the meeting, Dr Farooq Sattar announced that MQM-P would fully support the PML-N in the upcoming elections.
He further stated that all MQM-P candidates contesting the Azad Kashmir elections would withdraw in favour of PML-N candidates, strengthening the alliance between the two parties ahead of polling.
With campaigning now over, election authorities have shifted their focus to logistical arrangements, including the secure transportation of polling materials and deployment of election staff to ensure smooth and transparent voting.
Polling for the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections is scheduled for 27 July, when voters in Mirpur Division will elect their representatives from among the 296 candidates contesting the 13 constituencies. The Election Commission has urged voters to participate peacefully and responsibly while observing the electoral code of conduct during polling day.
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