Polling Extended by One Hour in First Phase of AJK Elections in Mirpur Division

Election authorities on Monday extended polling by one hour in 13 constituencies of Mirpur Division during the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections.

A total of 296 candidates are contesting the elections, while 1,401,439 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots in Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber districts. A total of 2,454 polling stations have been set up across the division.

Authorities said comprehensive security arrangements were in place. AJK Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal warned that legal action would be taken against anyone trying to disrupt the voting process.

AJK Chief Secretary Khushhal Khan said the people of Azad Kashmir had rejected “disruptive elements” and expressed confidence in the democratic process. He said all state institutions were prepared to ensure peaceful elections.

However, voting was affected by incidents of violence at some polling stations.

In LA-9 Kotli-II Nakyal, one person was killed and three others were injured in a shooting incident. Police suspended polling at the affected station. PPP candidate Javed Budhanvi identified the deceased as party worker Mukhtar Younis. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed grief over the death.

The PPP alleged that supporters of a PML-N candidate were involved in the incident, while PPP leaders also accused the PML-N of trying to make the elections controversial. The allegations have not been independently verified.

In another incident in LA-6 Bhimber, a clash was reported between workers of two political parties at the Darbar Baba Shadi Shaheed polling station. The District Returning Officer said miscreants snatched a ballot box and set it on fire. The box reportedly contained 232 votes.

Polling was suspended at the affected station, and authorities said legal action would be taken against those responsible. A decision on possible re-polling will be made later.

The DRO said the situation remained normal at other polling stations. He also confirmed receiving a complaint regarding LA-7 and said he personally visited the polling stations where concerns had been reported.