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MUZAFFARABAD: The general elections for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) are being held today on Sunday to elect the members of the Legislative Assembly for a five-year term.
Polling started at 08:00 AM will continue until 05:00 PM without any interval while results at the polling stations will be announced after one hour of the conclusion of the polling.
Over 40 thousand security personals including Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, Rangers and Police have been deployed to ensure peaceful polling. 701 candidates are contesting for 45 general seats including 12 refugee seats.
A total of 32 political parties are contesting the elections and hundreds of independent candidates are also vying in all the 45 electoral constituencies including 33 in AJK districts and 12 meant of Jammu and Kashmir refugees settled in various parts of Pakistan. The remaining 8 seats are reserved including five are for women, and one each for overseas Kashmiris, technocrats and religious scholars.
A total of 3,250,117 registered voters in all 33 electoral constituencies in all ten districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir will exercise their right to vote. The elections will also be held in all 12 constituencies meant for Pakistan-based Jammu & Kashmir refugees.
Over 2.8 million voters have been registered in 33 Azad Jammu Kashmir constituencies and 0.4 million in 12 Jammu Kashmir refugees based in various parts of Pakistan. The registered voters shall have to produce original computerized national identity card at the polling station at the time of exercising the right to vote.
The security forces troops to be deployed to maintain peace and order during the polls including 5,300 AJK police cops, 12,000 from Punjab police, 10,000 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police and 1,000 from Islamabad police, 400 Frontier Constabulary personnel and 3,200 Rangers personnel to be backed by at least seven thousands of Pakistan army troops.
The constitutional term of the incumbent AJK Legislative assembly will expire on 29th July, 2021. Under interim Act 1974, the interim constitution of AJK, it is mandatory to hold elections 60 days before the last date.
The AJK Election Commission has set up control room to receive the election results from all the concerned District Returning Officers soon after the polling. The administration including AJK police in all ten districts of AJK have made fool-proof arrangements to maintain peace and order during the elections.
The AJK administration has taken adequate measures to strengthen and improve the professional skills of the police besides other law enforcing agencies to ensure maintaining complete law and order during the polls.
