AJK election commission revises third-phase pollin…
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission has revised the schedule for the third phase of the Legislative Assembly elections.
Polling in Poonch and Sudhanoti districts has been postponed. The election commission has now decided to hold the third phase in Bagh and Haveli districts.
Under the earlier schedule, polling was planned for August 10. Voting was expected to take place across 11 seats in four districts of the Poonch division.
The election authorities have now changed the plan. The new schedule will cover constituencies in Bagh and Haveli.
The first two phases of the AJK elections have already been completed. The first phase was held on July 27 in the Mirpur Division. The second phase took place on August 2 in the Muzaffarabad Division.
The elections are being closely watched because of the political contest between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party.
The PML-N has emerged as the leading party in the first two phases. Its leaders have claimed that the party has secured enough support to form the next AJK government.
In the second phase, voting was held in 21 constituencies. Nine seats were located in the Muzaffarabad Division. Twelve seats were reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled in different parts of Pakistan.
According to unofficial and provisional results, the PML-N won 15 of the 21 seats. The PPP secured the remaining six seats.
The PML-N had also performed strongly during the first phase. Unofficial results showed the party winning nine constituencies. The PPP won four seats.
The election process has also been accompanied by allegations of irregularities and violence. The PPP has questioned the fairness of the elections and accused the authorities of failing to ensure a transparent process.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has strongly criticised the election process. He described the polls as unfair and alleged that violence and irregularities affected the voting.
Bilawal also said the PPP would continue its political struggle despite the party’s performance in the elections. He claimed that the federal government would face political challenges in the future.
The PML-N has rejected the allegations.
PML-N leader and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah challenged the PPP to present evidence of electoral irregularities before the election commission.
He said accusations should be supported by evidence. He also accused the PPP of promoting allegations of rigging from the beginning of the election process.
The revised schedule has now shifted attention towards Bagh and Haveli. The election authorities are expected to provide further details about polling arrangements and the dates for voting in the postponed constituencies.
