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Polling has ended in the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections. The vote-counting process has now begun. Polling was held in four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli. These included LA-14 Bagh-1, LA-15 Bagh-2, LA-16 Bagh-3 and LA-17 Bagh-4 Haveli. The polling process started at 8am and continued until 5pm. Voters were allowed to cast their ballots throughout the scheduled polling hours. With polling now concluded, election officials have started counting the votes. The results will determine the outcome of the remaining constituencies in the third phase. The first two phases had already produced a lead for the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. In the first phase, polling was held for 13 seats in the Mirpur Division. The PML-N won nine of these seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party secured four. The second phase covered nine seats in the Muzaffarabad Division and 12 seats reserved for refugees. The PML-N won 15 seats in the second phase, while the PPP secured six seats. The third phase is being closely watched as the counting process will complete the voting process across the remaining constituencies. Election authorities are expected to announce results after the completion of counting and the required verification process. The outcome of the third phase will also determine the final balance of seats and pave the way for the formation of the next government in Azad Kashmir.

KARACHI: The father of young Karachi resident Mir Raza has expressed confidence in the newly formed investigation team. He said he felt, for the first time in 13 days, that the investigation was moving in the right direction. Mir Raza’s parents, lawyer Jibran Nasir and members of the new investigation team visited locations connected to the case. The visit was aimed at reviewing important points and gathering information that could help investigators understand what happened. Jibran Nasir said the family had identified several important locations on its own. These locations were later shown to the police. He said Mir Raza’s parents were cooperating fully with the investigators and answering their questions. Nasir said the investigation team was waiting for the results of samples collected during the post-mortem examination. He said additional samples obtained after the exhumation had also been sent to a forensic laboratory. The lawyer said the family now believed that an honest and serious officer was handling the investigation. He said the family had earlier faced difficulties in getting the matter investigated properly. Mir Raza’s father, Mir Hussain, said the family still wanted clear answers about his son’s death. He said the exact circumstances surrounding the incident had not yet been established. According to him, the initial investigation should have been more effective. He said timely and proper action at the beginning could have taken the case to a different stage. Mir Hussain said the new investigation team was listening to the family’s concerns. He said investigators were considering the information provided by the parents. The family, he added, now had greater confidence in the process. He said the main objective was to establish what happened to Mir Raza and how the incident took place. The family wanted every aspect of the case to be examined. Mir Hussain said Mir Raza’s kitchen was located around half a kilometre from the site of the incident. He also said information about three suspicious individuals had already been shared with the police. The victim’s father further alleged that the previous investigation team had not properly shared details of the inquiry with the family. He hoped the new team would maintain transparency and investigate the case from all possible angles. The family said it would continue cooperating with investigators. Mir Hussain said they would pursue the case as far as necessary to uncover the truth and obtain justice for Mir Raza. Investigators are now expected to examine forensic evidence, statements and other available information. The reports from the forensic laboratory could also play an important role in determining the circumstances surrounding the case.