Voting is underway in the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections across four constituencies in Bagh and Haveli districts. Polling began at 8am and will continue until 5pm.
Authorities have put extensive security measures in place to ensure peaceful voting. Most of the 803 polling stations established for the four constituencies have been declared sensitive or highly sensitive due to security concerns.
According to AJK Election Commission Secretary Raja Mohammad Shakeel, around 10,300 additional security personnel have been deployed alongside regular police forces in Bagh and Haveli. The deployment aims to provide a safe environment for voters and election staff.
A total of 460,371 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots in this phase. This includes 238,664 male voters and 221,707 female voters. Voting is taking place through 1,254 polling booths, while 82 candidates are contesting the four seats.
The third phase was originally planned for all 11 constituencies of Poonch Division. However, the Election Commission decided to hold polling only in three constituencies of Bagh and one constituency of Haveli because of security concerns.
Polling in the remaining seven constituencies of Poonch and Sudhnoti is expected to be held later this month. The decision has increased political interest in the constituencies where voting is currently taking place.
Several prominent political leaders are contesting in this phase. AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore is contesting from LA-17 Haveli against PML-N candidate Engr Mohsin Aziz and independent candidate Khawaja Tariq Saeed.
In LA-15 Wasti Bagh, former prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas faces competition from PML-N’s Mushtaq Ahmed Minhas, PPP’s Sardar Ziaul Qamar, and Jamaat-e-Islami’s retired Brigadier Dr Mohammad Khan.
LA-16 Sharqi Bagh has also attracted attention, where PML-N’s Sardar Mir Akbar and PPP’s Sardar Qamar Zaman are among the main contenders.
Meanwhile, LA-14 Dhirkot remains one of the most closely watched constituencies. Muslim Conference chief Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan is facing a challenge from Sajid Iqbal Abbasi of the Awam Dast-o-Bazu Party. The constituency has attracted 30 candidates, the highest number among the four seats.
The first two phases of the AJK elections saw PML-N emerge as the leading party with 24 seats, while PPP secured 10 seats. Political observers are closely watching the results of the third phase, which could influence the overall political landscape in the region.
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