MM News

MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has finally witnessed the first phase of local government elections on Sunday (today), with polling started in the first leg in Muzaffarabad division. The elections will continue till December 8.

Polling, which started in three districts Muzaffarabad, Neelum, and Jhelum valley at 8am will continue till 5pm without any break. Chief Election Commissioner AJK (retired) Justice Abdur Rasheed Sulehriya has appealed voters and contesting candidates to cooperate with polling staff so as to accomplish the polling process in a free, fair, and transparent manner.

According to reports and data gathered by MM News, 10,556 candidates are taking part in the elections. 12.5 percent of the seats are reserved for women and 12.5 percent for the youth to enhance their participation in the decision-making. The total number of registered voters is 2,950,129, including 1,383,100 women. 5,357 polling stations have been set up across the region. The total number of union councils is 278 and of wards2,086. In all, 2,364 people will be elected to various offices.

Officials said Local government elections in the other two divisions of the state Poonch and Mirpur will be held on the 3rd and 8th of next month.

Talking to media the other day, officials said all security arrangement had been made final with scheme of deployment according to category of the polling stations, besides quick response force at each sector and routine patrolling and policing by the police force, and more thousand troops will be deployed at polling stations besides the army would be ready to respond at any untoward situation.