MUZAFFARABAD: Polling began at 8 am today in the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections, with voting scheduled to continue until 5 pm.
This phase carries special political importance, as heavyweight leaders including Muslim Conference chief and former Prime Minister Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan, IPP chief and former Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, and the sitting Prime Minister of AJK Faisal Rathore are contesting in the Bagh and Haveli constituencies.
According to Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, about 460,000 voters are expected to exercise their franchise in the four constituencies.
He confirmed that election materials were delivered last night and that security arrangements have been completed to maintain law and order.
Polling, however, has been postponed in five constituencies of Poonch and two constituencies of Sidhnoti, with new schedules to be announced later.
The stakes are high: in the first phase, polling was held on 13 seats in Mirpur division, where PML‑N won 9 seats and PPP secured 4.
In the second phase, elections were held on 9 seats in Muzaffarabad division and 12 refugee seats, with PML‑N winning 15 seats and PPP 6.
This has placed PML‑N in the lead with 24 seats in the 45‑member assembly, while PPP trails with 10 seats. The outcome of today’s polling will further clarify the balance of power.
Yet, the elections are already being described as the most controversial in AJK’s history.
Opposition parties, particularly the PPP, have alleged rigging, fake voting, and attacks on their leaders and workers.
Just yesterday, PPP President Chaudhry Yasin accused the Election Commission of conducting elections “at its own will” and claimed that the Punjab Police was deliberately deployed to favor PML‑N.
Chaudhry Yasin likened the current process to the 2016 elections, where PML‑N initially agreed to investigate irregularities in 80 percent of constituencies but later reneged.
Political observers warn that while PML‑N projects confidence in securing a two‑thirds majority, the credibility of the electoral process remains under severe strain.
With violence reported in Nakyal, Samahni, and Rawlakot during earlier phases, and fresh allegations surfacing daily, questions persist about the legitimacy of the assembly that will emerge from these elections.
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