The Voting process for 13 seats of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly will take place on Sunday across Mirpur Division. Election authorities have completed all necessary preparations and dispatched polling materials to designated polling stations under strict security arrangements.
According to the Election Commission, voters will cast their ballots for four seats in Mirpur, three in Bhimber, and six in Kotli. Candidates representing major political parties, along with independent contenders, are participating in the elections.
Officials confirmed that ballot papers and other election materials have already been distributed from the offices of the District Returning Officers (DROs). Presiding officers collected the required election material and transported it to their assigned polling stations under security supervision to ensure a smooth Voting process.
The Election Commission has made extensive arrangements to facilitate voters and maintain order on polling day. Security personnel have been deployed at polling stations to safeguard election materials and help ensure peaceful polling across the region.
Several constituencies are expected to witness competitive contests between candidates from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed independents, the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP), and independent candidates.
In LA-1 Mirpur-I, PPP candidate Afsar Shahid is expected to face a close contest against PML-N’s Azhar Sadiq.
LA-2 Mirpur-II is likely to witness a three-way race between PML-N’s Azeem Bakhsh, PPP’s Qasim Majeed, and PTI-backed independent Zafar Anwar.
In LA-3 Mirpur-III, PML-N candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Saeed will compete against PPP’s Yasir Sultan, while IPP’s Tasleem Arif and independent candidate Umair Asghar are also contesting the seat.
LA-4 Mirpur-IV (Khari Sharif) is expected to feature a direct contest between PML-N’s Rukhsar Ahmed and PPP’s Sohaib Arshad.
In LA-5 Bhimber-I (Barnala), retired Colonel Waqar Noor of PML-N will challenge PPP’s Chaudhry Pervez Ashraf.
LA-6 Bhimber-II (Samahni) is expected to see a competitive race between IPP’s Ali Shan Soni and PML-N’s Muhammad Razaq Chaudhry.
Former Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, contesting as an independent candidate in LA-7 Bhimber-III, is expected to face a strong challenge from PML-N’s Tariq Farooq.
Meanwhile, LA-12 Kotli-V is expected to witness a close contest between PPP’s Muhammad Yaseen Chaudhry and PML-N’s Muhammad Riasat Khan.
Election campaigning officially ended on Friday after the legally permitted campaign period expired. Under election laws, candidates and political parties are no longer allowed to hold rallies, public meetings, or conduct any campaign activities before polling begins.
Authorities have urged voters to cooperate with polling staff and security personnel to ensure a peaceful and transparent Voting process. Election officials have also advised citizens to carry the required identification documents and follow polling station guidelines.
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The upcoming elections are considered important for the political future of Mirpur Division. With several closely contested constituencies, the results are expected to attract significant public attention as voters head to polling stations to elect their representatives.
