3rd phase of AJK polls: Voting begins in Poonch Division's Bagh and Haveli districts

The third phase of elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (AJK) is proceeding in the Bagh and Haveli districts of Poonch Division. Polling commenced at 8 a.m. and will conclude at 5 p.m. today.

The Election Commission has designated the majority of the 803 polling stations across the four constituencies as either sensitive or highly sensitive. To ensure a secure and fear-free environment for voters, an additional 10,300 troops have been deployed alongside regular police forces. Election Commission Secretary Raja Mohammad Shakeel stated that these measures are intended to maintain law and order.

These elections are being conducted in phases amidst ongoing tensions between protesters and authorities. Previous polling in Mirpur and Muzaffarabad divisions saw the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) secure 24 seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has so far won 10 seats. The current phase was initially planned to encompass the entirety of Poonch Division.

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Apart from the regular police of both districts, we have dispatched an additional 10,300 troops to maintain law and order and provide a fear-free atmosphere to voters.