AJK election first-phase polling concluded on Sunday as voting ended across 13 constituencies in Mirpur, Kotli, and Bhimber, with election officials immediately beginning the vote-counting process. More than 1.4 million registered voters were eligible to cast their ballots during the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections.
A large number of male and female voters participated in the electoral process. A total of 296 candidates, representing Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), and independent groups, contested the seats.
Election authorities established 2,454 polling stations across Mirpur Division. These included 597 polling stations in four constituencies of Mirpur, 1,107 in six constituencies of Kotli, and 608 in three constituencies of Bhimber to facilitate voters.
The polling process was disrupted in LA-9 Nikyal, Kotli, after a firing incident left one person dead and three others injured. Following the incident, election officials temporarily suspended polling at the affected location.
PPP candidate Javed Budhanvi claimed that the deceased was a Pakistan Peoples Party worker named Mukhtar. Authorities have not yet released the findings of an official investigation into the shooting.
In Bhimber, unrest broke out at the Baba Shadi Shaheed polling station, where miscreants allegedly snatched a ballot box and set it on fire. According to the District Returning Officer (DRO), the destroyed ballot box contained 232 votes. Officials said a decision on whether re-polling will be held at the station will be announced later.
Inspector General of Police Azad Kashmir Liaquat Ali Malik said police would take action wherever law and order violations occur and stressed that no individual or political worker would be allowed to take the law into their own hands. Chief Secretary Khushhal Khan said the public had reaffirmed confidence in the democratic process and warned that strict action would be taken against anyone attempting to disrupt the elections.
