BY: FT Correspondent:
MUZAFFARABAD—The second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly general elections will be held today, August 2, with polling taking place across the three districts of Muzaffarabad Division and for 12 constituencies reserved for Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan.
Muzaffarabad Division comprises the districts of Muzaffarabad, Neelum, and Jhelum Valley, where a total of 890,621 registered voters will exercise their right to vote in nine constituencies.
According to the Election Commission, 208 candidates are contesting the nine constituencies across the three districts.
To ensure transparent and peaceful elections, 1,483 polling stations have been established across the division, including 1,205 in the five constituencies of Muzaffarabad district, 278 in the two constituencies of Neelum, and 328 in the two constituencies of Jhelum Valley.
The total registered electorate in Muzaffarabad Division includes 427,955 male and 381,666 female voters.
During the second phase, Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan will also cast their votes to elect representatives for 12 reserved refugee seats, comprising six Jammu constituencies (LA-34 Jammu-I to LA-39 Jammu-VI) and six Valley constituencies (LA-40 Valley-I to LA-45 Valley-VI).
For LA-42 Valley-III, two polling stations have been established in Multan.
Meanwhile, LA-41 Valley-Lahore has 6,410 registered voters, with nine candidates in the contest. The constituency covers the districts of Lahore, Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, and Kasur. The Election Commission has established 19 polling stations for the constituency, including 13 in Lahore, four in Sheikhupura, and one each in Nankana Sahib and Kasur. Notably, a separate polling station has been set up in Kasur for only two registered voters.
It is worth mentioning that in the first phase of the AJK general elections, the Pakistan Muslim League (N) secured a clear majority. Following today’s polling in the second phase, more election results are expected, with political observers across the country closely watching the outcome.
