KASHMIR: Amid tight security, polling has begun for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly (LA) seats from the Mirpur division in the first phase of the elections on Monday.
In the first phase, elections are going to be held in the 13 constituencies of three districts of Mirpur Division; Mirpur, Kotli, and Bhimber. Under the election code of conduct, a ban was imposed on rallies, processions, and corner meetings by candidates and political parties after the end of the campaign time, while the administration completed all necessary arrangements to make the electoral process peaceful and transparent.
Strict security arrangements have been made on this occasion, and additional personnel have been deployed at sensitive polling stations so that voters could exercise their right to vote without any fear.
According to the data, the total number of registered voters in these 13 constituencies is 1,401,439, including 725,118 males and 675,628 females. A total of 2,454 polling stations have been established in the whole division for the convenience of voters.
As many as 597 polling stations have been set up in four constituencies of Mirpur district, 1,107 in six constituencies of Kotli district, and 608 in three constituencies of Bhimber district.
A total of 296 candidates from various political parties, including PML-N, Pakistan Peoples’ Party, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, and independent candidates, are competing in these electoral constituencies.
According to political observers, a tough competition is expected in some constituencies, especially in LA 3 Mirpur, LA 6 Bhimber, and LA 10 Kotli, where a neck-and-neck contest is expected between the candidates of Pakistan Peoples’ Party, PML-N, and Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party.
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