Second phase of AJK elections begins across Muzaffarabad division and refugee constituencies

The second phase of elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) began on Sunday. Polling opened in nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division and all 12 refugee constituencies. Voting started at 8 a.m. and will continue until 5 p.m., election authorities said.

How many constituencies are voting in the second phase of AJK elections?

The second phase covers 21 constituencies in total. Nine seats belong to Muzaffarabad division, while the remaining 12 are reserved for Kashmiri refugees living across Pakistan. Polling in both categories runs on the same day, under the same 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule.

How many candidates are contesting the second phase of AJK elections?

More than 300 candidates are in the race this phase. The AJK Election Commission said 207 candidates are contesting the nine Muzaffarabad division seats, which include five in Muzaffarabad district and two each in Neelum and Jhelum Valley districts. Another 137 candidates are contesting the 12 refugee constituencies, split between six seats for Kashmir Valley refugees and six for those from Jammu.

How many voters are registered for the second phase of AJK elections?

Muzaffarabad division has 809,621 registered voters, according to the election commission. The 12 refugee constituencies have a combined electorate of 438,834. Together, the two categories account for more than 1.2 million eligible voters in this phase.

How many polling stations have been set up in Muzaffarabad division?

A total of 1,483 polling stations are operating across Muzaffarabad division. Of these, 533 have been classified as highly sensitive, 741 as sensitive and 209 as normal. A separate 1,057 polling stations have been established for the refugee constituencies.

Where are the refugee constituencies located?

The 12 refugee constituencies are spread across several parts of Pakistan. Seven of the seats are located in Punjab and one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The remaining seats are divided among Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Islamabad.

How is polling proceeding in Rawalpindi and Islamabad?

Around 27,000 registered voters in Rawalpindi and Islamabad will elect representatives for LA-43 (Valley-IV), LA-44 (Valley-V) and LA-39 (Jammu-VI). Authorities set up 175 polling stations for these seats, including 18 in Rawalpindi that have been declared sensitive. A total of 34 candidates are contesting the three constituencies.

What security measures are in place in Gujrat?

Nearly 2,000 police personnel have been deployed for polling duties in Gujrat, where voting is being held for the LA-38 seat. The constituency has 115 polling stations, including 75 in Gujrat, 24 in Wazirabad and 16 in Mandi Bahauddin. Election officials said 50,225 voters are registered there, with 11 candidates contesting.

How is voting being conducted in Sindh?

Sindh is holding voting for two constituencies, LA-34 (Jammu-I) and LA-40 (Kashmir Valley-I), with polling stations set up in Karachi and other districts. LA-34 has 17 candidates and 698 registered voters across Karachi's seven districts, plus 477 voters in 13 other Sindh districts. LA-40 has 11 candidates, with 4,200 registered voters in Karachi and 403 voters spread across 17 other districts.

What is the polling situation in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?

In Balochistan, seven polling booths have been established for the Kashmir Valley-I seat, which is shared with Sindh, where 1,174 registered voters are expected to cast ballots. Six polling booths have been set up in Balochistan for the Jammu-I constituency, covering 182 registered voters, including 85 men and 97 women, at locations including Quetta, Pishin, Qila Saifullah, Hub, Loralai, Sibi, Mastung, Zhob and Barkhan. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 41 polling stations have been established for the LA-45 (Kashmir VI) seat, most of them located in Swat and Mansehra districts.