Second phase of AJK elections on Sunday in 9 Muzaffarabad division, 12 refugee constituencies

MUZAFFARABAD: Polling for the second phase of elections to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly will be held on Sunday in nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division and all 12 constituencies reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled in Pakistan, where more than 340 candidates are contesting 21 seats. According to the AJK Election Commission, 207 candidates are in the fray for the nine constituencies in Muzaffarabad division, comprising five seats in Muzaffarabad district and two each in Neelum and Jhelum Valley districts. Another 137 candidates are contesting the 12 refugee constituencies, including six seats representing refugees from the Kashmir Valley and six from Jammu. A total of 809,621 voters are registered in Muzaffarabad division, including 427,955 men and 381,666 women. The 12 refugee constituencies have a combined electorate of 438,834, comprising 247,776 male and 191,054 female voters. Internet services were suspended again on Friday, less than 45 hours after being restored, as part of efforts to discourage elements attempting to disrupt the election process. Official sources said the services were likely to be restored on Sunday. However, the Election Commission made it clear that polling would be held as scheduled in all nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division and the 12 refugee constituencies. It added that polling would continue from 8am to 5pm without a break. Election material had been delivered to all polling stations in the 12 refugee constituencies, the commission said, adding that the distribution of polling material had also been completed in all constituencies of Neelum and Jhelum Valley districts, while the process had entered its final stage in the five constituencies of Muzaffarabad district. Polling staff had also been dispatched to their respective polling stations under stringent security arrangements. According to the commission, 1,483 polling stations have been established across Muzaffarabad division, of which 533 have been declared highly sensitive, 741 sensitive and 209 normal. Another 1,057 polling stations have been set up for the 12 refugee constituencies. It said all administrative and security arrangements had been completed and security personnel had already been deployed at polling stations to ensure the peaceful conduct of polling. Separately, in a televised message to the public on the eve of polling, Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal urged voters to exercise their right to franchise, saying the vote was the only means through which citizens could choose a better future and capable leadership. “There is no substitute for the vote, and every citizen should fulfil this national responsibility,” he said, adding that the vote was a trust that should be entrusted to an honest and competent candidate. Mughal appealed to the electorate to participate wholeheartedly in the democratic process and demonstrate responsible citizenship. He said all arrangements had been finalised to ensure peaceful, transparent and fair elections.