Polling begins in Poonch Divisions's Bagh, Haveli in third phase of AJK elections

Polling began in four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli in the Poonch Division on Monday in the third phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir's (AJK) general elections, with the outcome set to play a crucial role in determining the balance of power in the 45-member Legislative Assembly and the formation of the next government. The AJK general elections were scheduled to be held in three phases after the Election Commission revised the polling plan, with voting in Mirpur Division held on July 27, followed by Muzaffarabad Division and the 12 constituencies reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled in Pakistan on August 2, while Poonch Division is due to vote on August 10. A total of 460,371 registered voters, including 238,664 men and 221,707 women, are eligible to cast their ballots in the four constituencies. The AJK Election Commission has established 803 polling stations comprising 1,254 polling booths. Eighty-two candidates are contesting the four seats, with several prominent political figures in the electoral race. AJK Prime Minister Faisal Rathore is contesting from Haveli, while former prime ministers Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan and Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan are among the major candidates in Bagh and Dhirkot. PML-N Senior Vice President Mushtaq Minhas is also contesting. Other prominent contestants include Awam Dast-e-Bazu party candidate Sajid Iqbal Abbasi from Dhirkot and Khawaja Tariq Saeed from Haveli. JI candidate Brig (retd) Muhammad Khan, PPP candidates Zia-ul-Qamar and Qamar Zaman, and PML-N candidates Mir Akbar and Mohsin Aziz are also among the key contenders. PML-N's Faisal Azad is contesting from Dhirkot. Read: PML-N intensifies AJK election campaign in crucial third phase The four constituencies — LA-14 Bagh-I, LA-15 Bagh-II, LA-16 Bagh-III and LA-17 Bagh/Haveli Kahuta — are witnessing contests involving the PML-N, PPP, JI, Muslim Conference, IPP, independents and other political groups. The Bagh-Haveli contests are particularly significant because the PML-N emerged as the leading party after the first two phases. However, the third phase is expected to produce several closely fought battles involving the PPP, the PML-N, the JI, the Muslim Conference, the IPP, independents and other political groups. The Election Commission has put special security arrangements in place at sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations. Police and other law-enforcement personnel have been deployed across the constituencies to maintain law and order. Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal instructed polling staff to remain impartial and strictly adhere to the electoral code of conduct. Vote counting will begin at polling stations immediately after polling ends at 5pm. Candidates' polling agents will be allowed to remain present during the counting process and obtain copies of the results in accordance with election procedures. The remaining seven constituencies, covering Rawalakot, Poonch and Sudhnoti, are expected to go to the polls later, potentially by August 20, subject to the prevailing political situation. The first two phases The first phase concluded with polling across Mirpur Division, while the second phase covered nine constituencies in Muzaffarabad Division and 12 refugee seats, bringing 21 constituencies to the polls. However, voting in LA-27 Muzaffarabad-I and LA-28 Muzaffarabad-II was postponed after heavy rain, landslides and adverse weather prevented election staff and polling material from reaching several polling stations. Read More: Bagh-Haveli vote to test PML-N's dominance Polling in the two delayed constituencies was held on Tuesday under heightened security arrangements, with the PML-N winning LA-27 Muzaffarabad-I and the PPP securing LA-28 Muzaffarabad-II, formally bringing the second phase of the elections to a close. The Election Commission subsequently notified the results of all 21 constituencies contested in the second phase. Following the completion of the first two phases, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerged as the largest party with 24 seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) became the second-largest parliamentary force with 10 seats. The postponement came against the backdrop of deteriorating security conditions in Poonch Division, where tensions have persisted since late July. Violent clashes erupted in Rawalakot between police and members of the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) after the group attempted to enter the city during the first phase of the AJK elections. Several videos circulating online showed scenes of unrest, with claims of violence and casualties, though the details could not be independently verified. Authorities said JAAC supporters opened fire on police after refusing to disperse, injuring officers, while the group alleged security forces had used excessive force, claiming multiple fatalities among its supporters. Since then, the government has maintained that the law and order situation in parts of Poonch and Sudhnoti remained fragile.

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