AJK polling enters third phase amid tight security

MUZAFFARABAD: Voting in the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir general elections began on Monday in four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli districts.

Polling started at 8am and will continue until 5pm. Security has been tightened across the constituencies due to concerns over possible clashes and disturbances.

Authorities have declared most of the 803 polling stations sensitive or highly sensitive. A large security contingent has been deployed to maintain law and order.

Around 10,300 additional security personnel have been sent to Bagh and Haveli. Officials said the deployment was aimed at providing a safe environment for voters and election staff.

The third phase was originally planned for all 11 constituencies of Poonch Division. However, voting was restricted to Bagh and Haveli after authorities reviewed the security situation.

The remaining seven constituencies are expected to be polled later this month. Election officials have indicated that voting could take place on August 20 or 21, depending on the security situation.

The current phase has attracted considerable political attention. Several prominent leaders are contesting the four seats.

AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore is seeking to retain his constituency. Two former prime ministers, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas and Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, are also in the electoral race.

A total of 460,371 voters are eligible to cast their ballots. They include 238,664 men and 221,707 women.

The election is being held at 803 polling stations. These stations have 1,254 polling booths. As many as 82 candidates are competing in the four constituencies.

LA-14 Dhirkot has the highest number of candidates. Thirty candidates are contesting the seat. LA-17 Haveli has nine candidates, the lowest number among the four constituencies.

In LA-17 Haveli, Prime Minister Rathore is facing PML-N candidate Engineer Mohsin Aziz and independent contender Khawaja Tariq Saeed.

Rathore and Saeed were previously political allies. They had reportedly agreed to contest the seat alternately.

Their political relationship changed after Rathore became prime minister. Rathore sought Saeed’s withdrawal from the contest. Saeed refused to step aside.

The two former allies are now competing against each other.

Mohsin Aziz is also running an active campaign. His father, Chaudhry Mohammad Aziz, had won the constituency several times in the past.

The PML-N candidate is expected to receive support from sections of the Gujjar community. Saeed is believed to have support among parts of the Kashmiri community and several smaller clans.

Rathore has expressed confidence about retaining the seat. He has highlighted the performance of his government during his tenure.

The constituency has also witnessed allegations of electoral irregularities. Claims circulated on social media about alleged manipulation by two presiding officers.

Election officials rejected the allegations as presented on social media. However, they confirmed receiving complaints against the two officials. Both were subsequently removed from election duties.

In LA-15 Wasti Bagh, former prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas is facing several strong contenders.

The candidates include PML-N nominee and former minister Mushtaq Ahmed Minhas. PPP candidate and sitting minister Sardar Ziaul Qamar is also contesting.

Jamaat-i-Islami candidate retired Brigadier Dr Mohammad Khan is another key contender.

Ilyas had initially announced a boycott of the third phase. He later reversed the decision and returned to the election campaign.

He has described the contest as important for his political future. He has also linked his campaign to the possibility of securing a senior constitutional position after the election.

Ilyas and Ziaul Qamar belong to the same Madiyal tribe. Brigadier Khan belongs to the Narma clan.

He is backed by several influential Jamaat-i-Islami figures and local supporters.

Mushtaq Minhas is benefiting from the PML-N’s position as the leading party in the elections held so far. The party has secured the largest number of seats in the previous phases and is expected to play a major role in forming the next government.

In LA-16 Sharqi Bagh, former ministers Sardar Mir Akbar and Sardar Qamar Zaman are among the main contenders.

Mir Akbar is contesting on the PML-N ticket. Qamar is representing the PPP.

The LA-14 Dhirkot contest has also emerged as one of the closely watched races.

Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, head of the Muslim Conference, is seeking another victory from the constituency. He has represented the seat for several years and previously served as AJK prime minister.

He is facing a strong challenge from Sajid Iqbal Abbasi of the Awam Dast-o-Bazu Party.

Abbasi is a contractor and philanthropist. He has reportedly spent substantial personal resources on welfare and development projects in the constituency.

His supporters believe his community work has helped him build a strong voter base.

The contest has become more interesting because Attique and Abbasi belong to the same tribe.

PML-N candidate Raja Faisal Azad and PPP nominee Raja Mubashar Ejaz are also contesting Dhirkot. However, the main competition is expected to remain between Attique and Abbasi.

The results of the third phase could influence the political balance in AJK. The PML-N has already emerged as the strongest party in the earlier phases.

The PPP and other political groups will now seek to strengthen their position in the remaining contests.