MIRPUR (Kashmir English): The polling for the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) general elections in three districts of Mirpur division concluded on Monday amid allegations of rigging and incidents of violence at several polling stations.
Following the end of polling time, the vote count is underway in 13 constituencies of Mirpur, Kotli, and Bhimber districts under tight security.
Earlier, the polling began at 8 am and was scheduled to conclude at 5 pm, but due to the unusual turnout of voters, the Election Commissioner extended the polling time by one hour.
To check results from every constituency, visit Kashmir Digital’s portal: electionportal.pk
In a statement, Chief Election Commissioner, Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, added that the polling will continue till 6 pm.
As per the election body, at least 296 candidates, belonging to different political parties and independent, contested the polls.
The election commission said that 2,454 polling stations have been set up in Mirpur, including 597 in 4 constituencies of Mirpur, 1,107 in 6 constituencies of Kotli district and 608 in 3 constituencies of Bhimber.
A total of more than 1,401,439 registered voters will exercise their right to vote in the first phase, including more than 400,000 voters in Mirpur district, about 350,000 in Bhimber district, and 647,378 voters in Kotli district.
Around 4500 personeel from the police, Rangers, and other law enforcement agencies remained deployed inside and outside the polling stations, while special security arrangements were made at polling stations declared sensitive and highly sensitive.
PPP worker died
Multiple cases of scuffles were reported at several polling stations as Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) claimed that party worker Mukhtar Younis was shot dead by PML-N candidate Sardar Umair Naeem in LA-9 Kotli-II (Nakyal).
According to reports, this incident took place in Dheri village of Nakyal, where workers of both PPP and PML-N came face to face during polling.
In a statement, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed his condolences to the family of the deceased.
“I have received information that my worker Mukhtar Younis was martyred in firing by PML-N candidate Sardar Umair Naeem,” Bhutto added.
