Muzaffarabad: Voting is continuing in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, with polling taking place across 13 constituencies in the Mirpur Division. However, an incident of violence was reported at a polling station in Bhimber, where a ballot box was allegedly snatched and set on fire.
Polling began at 8:00 a.m. and is scheduled to continue until 5:00 p.m. in the districts of Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber. A total of 296 candidates, representing the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), as well as independent candidates, are contesting the first phase of the elections.
According to election authorities, 1,401,439 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the 13 constituencies. The electorate includes 725,118 male voters and 675,628 female voters.
A total of 2,454 polling stations have been established across the Mirpur Division, including 597 in Mirpur district, 1,107 in Kotli district, and 608 in Bhimber district.
During polling in Bhimber, unrest broke out at the Darbar Baba Shadi Shaheed polling station, where, according to the District Returning Officer (DRO), miscreants seized a ballot box and set it on fire. The DRO said the destroyed ballot box contained 232 cast votes.
Election officials stated that, apart from the incident at the Darbar Baba Shadi Shaheed polling station, the overall polling process across the region remained peaceful and orderly. Authorities said a decision on whether re-polling will be held at the affected polling station will be taken after reviewing the incident.
Inspector General of Police Liaqat Ali Malik said that police would take action wherever any law and order incident occurs in Azad Kashmir. He stressed that no one, including political workers, would be allowed to take the law into their own hands.
Meanwhile, Chief Secretary Khushhal Khan said the people of Azad Kashmir had expressed confidence in the democratic process by rejecting disruptive elements. He added that all state institutions were fully prepared to ensure peaceful elections and warned that anyone attempting to obstruct the electoral process or disturb public order would face legal action.
Authorities continue to monitor the polling process closely as voting proceeds under enhanced security arrangements across the three districts.
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