The initial phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) general elections commenced today across 13 constituencies in Mirpur division. Polling hours are set from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a public holiday declared in Bhimber, Mirpur, and Kotli districts to encourage voter participation.
A total of 288 candidates are competing in this phase, with voting taking place at 2,316 polling stations, including 1,241 classified as ‘highly sensitive’ and 724 as ‘sensitive’ by the Election Commission. Security measures include a three-tier deployment involving police, paramilitary forces, and military personnel, with 18,560 law enforcement officials assigned to ensure order.
Around 2,100 army personnel are on standby, alongside Quick Response Force teams, to address potential emergencies. Subsequent phases will cover nine constituencies in Muzaffarabad division on August 2 and 11 constituencies in Poonch division on August 10.
Election Authorities Emphasize Voter Turnout and Order
Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal called on over 1.4 million registered voters to participate actively, assuring robust security measures in place. In a video address, he stated that legal consequences would follow any attempts to disrupt the electoral process.
Authorities dismissed a protest call by the outlawed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), with no demonstrators arriving at designated rally points. Chief Secretary Khushal Khan reinforced warnings against disrupting public order during and after the polls.
Political Rivals Clash Ahead of Voting
The contest has intensified between PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Sharif criticized the PPP’s influence in Sindh, while the PML-N announced development projects, which the PPP alleged violated electoral rules. Bilawal countered that public infrastructure projects are entitlements, not political gifts, emphasizing demands for governance, ownership, and employment rights.