Polling Underway in Second Phase of Azad Kashmir Elections
Muzaffarabad:Polling is underway in the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, with voters casting their ballots for seats in Muzaffarabad Division and refugee constituencies across Pakistan.
Voting began at **8:00 a.m.** and will continue until **5:00 p.m.** for **nine constituencies in Muzaffarabad Division** and **12 refugee seats**.
A total of **1,483 polling stations** have been established across Muzaffarabad Division. Meanwhile, Kashmiri refugees residing in different cities of Pakistan are voting for **six Jammu** and **six Kashmir Valley** constituencies.
In **Karachi**, polling is underway for the **Jammu-1** and **Kashmir Valley-1** seats, where **34 polling stations** have been set up. The Jammu-1 constituency has **698 registered voters**, while the Kashmir Valley-1 constituency has **4,200 registered voters** in the city.
Polling is also being held in **Rawalpindi and Islamabad** for three refugee constituencies, including **LA-43 Valley-4**, **LA-44 Valley-5**, and **LA-39 Jammu-6**.
A total of **12 candidates** are contesting LA-43 Valley-4, **eight candidates** are in the race for LA-44 Valley-5, and **14 candidates** are contesting LA-39 Jammu-6.
Among the prominent candidates, **Javed Butt** of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), **Muhammad Yasin** of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), and **Hamza Majeed** of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) are contesting LA-43 Valley-4.
In LA-44 Valley-5, notable candidates include **Ahmed Raza Qadri** of PML-N, **Muhammad Rashid Islam** of PPP, **Hanif Manzoor Dar** of Jamaat-e-Islami, and **Meher-un-Nisa** of the Muslim Conference.
For LA-39 Jammu-6, key contenders include **Chaudhry Fakhar Zaman** of PPP, **Raja Muhammad Siddique** of PML-N, and **Muhammad Tahir Khokhar** of IPP.
According to election officials, LA-43 Valley-4 has **3,346 registered voters**, including more than **1,600 women**. LA-44 Valley-5 has **6,996 registered voters**, including **3,294 women**, while LA-39 Jammu-6 has nearly **37,000 registered voters** from Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Chakwal, Jhelum, Attock, Peshawar, and Talagang.
The District Election Commission has established **10 polling stations** in LA-43 Valley-4, **27 polling stations** in LA-44 Valley-5, and **155 polling stations** in LA-39 Jammu-6.
Overall, Muzaffarabad Division’s three districts have **890,621 registered voters**, comprising **427,955 men** and **381,666 women**, who are eligible to participate in the second phase of the elections.
