BY: ANI Correspondent:
MIRPUR— Chief Election Commissioner of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Justice (R) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, chaired a high-level meeting to review preparations for the 2026 General Elections.
The meeting was attended by Election Commission Secretary Raja Muhammad Shakeel Khan, District Returning Officers Jahangir Ahmed Jarral (Mirpur), Muhammad Idrees Bhatti (Kotli), Hafiz Sardar Muhammad Akram Khan (Bhimber), Returning Officers, Commissioner Mirpur Division Raja Tahir Mumtaz Khan, DIG Police Kamran Ali, divisional and district administration officials, and other relevant officers.
District Returning Officers briefed the meeting on election arrangements in their respective districts, while the Commissioner of Mirpur Division and the DIG Police presented detailed briefings on administrative and security preparations.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Election Commissioner Justice (R) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal expressed satisfaction over the election and security arrangements, stressing that the foremost objective of all institutions was to ensure free, fair, transparent, impartial, and peaceful elections.
He said the public had confidence in the judiciary, civil administration, and security institutions, urging all departments to work in close coordination. He directed officials to ensure the security of polling stations, voters, and polling staff, and to respond promptly and effectively to misinformation and rumours regarding the electoral process.
The Chief Election Commissioner also addressed concerns regarding the phased election schedule, stating that the perception that results in one division could influence voting in another was incorrect. He said Azad Kashmir has its own unique political and social dynamics, and its people are fully aware of their political choices. He added that security forces had already begun reaching polling stations and that all institutions would work together to ensure successful elections.
Commissioner Mirpur Division Raja Tahir Mumtaz Khan informed the meeting that all arrangements for the elections had been completed across the division’s three districts. He said Mirpur Division has 1,400,437 registered voters, including 724,811 men and 675,626 women.
A total of 2,316 polling stations have been established, including 1,241 highly sensitive, 724 sensitive, and 351 normal polling stations.
The Commissioner further stated that 288 candidates are contesting elections in the division’s 13 constituencies. The highest number of candidates, 34, are contesting from LA-3 Mirpur City, followed by 29 from LA-10 Kotli, 28 from LA-7 Bhimber, and 27 from LA-13 Khoiratta. Other constituencies also have significant numbers of candidates.
For election monitoring and security, 13 zones and 205 sectors have been established across the division. Special security arrangements have been made for sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations, while all logistical and transport arrangements have been finalised.
DIG Police Kamran Ali told the meeting that 18,560 personnel from the police and other law enforcement agencies would be deployed to ensure peaceful elections. This includes 5,536 personnel in Mirpur, 4,504 in Bhimber, and 8,520 in Kotli.
He said a three-tier security plan had been formulated, with the police serving as the first tier, civil armed forces as the second tier, and the Pakistan Army as the third tier. The second tier will include personnel from the Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), Pakistan Rangers (Sindh), and the Federal Constabulary, while 2,100 Pakistan Army troops will also be deployed for election security.
He assured that all security arrangements had been completed and that polling stations, sensitive locations, and public areas would remain under a comprehensive security plan to ensure that the 2026 General Elections are conducted peacefully, transparently, and efficiently.
