Polling stations opened across four constituencies in the Bagh and Haveli districts on Monday morning, marking the start of the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir general elections. More than 460,000 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots in a contest largely seen as a direct battle between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan Peoples Party.
Polls Open for 82 Candidates in Four Constituencies
According to the Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, voting began at 8am and will continue uninterrupted until 5pm. The constituencies in play during this phase are LA-14, LA-15, LA-16, and LA-17, where a total of 82 candidates are vying for legislative seats. The region’s mountainous terrain and scattered population centers pose logistical challenges, but officials reported a smooth start to the process.
The third phase was originally designed to cover 11 seats across the entire Poonch Division. However, the election commission revised the schedule, postponing polling in all constituencies of Poonch and Sudhanoti districts due to what it described as the prevailing law and order situation. A new date for those deferred areas will be announced after a security review.
PML-N Eyes Majority as PPP Alleges Irregularities
Unofficial results from the first two phases of the election, held on July 27 and August 2 in the Mirpur and Muzaffarabad divisions, have positioned the PML-N as the frontrunner. The party has already claimed a simple majority, with Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah asserting that the PML-N is set to form the next government in Azad Kashmir.
In the second phase, which covered 21 constituencies including nine in Muzaffarabad Division and 12 reserved seats for Kashmiri refugees in Pakistan, the PML-N secured 15 seats against the PPP’s six. The first phase saw the PML-N win nine constituencies, while the PPP took four.
The electoral process has not been without controversy. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari publicly criticized the elections as neither free nor fair, alleging widespread rigging and violence. The PML-N has categorically rejected these claims, with Sanaullah challenging the PPP to submit concrete evidence to the Election Commission rather than relying on political statements.
As the third phase unfolds in Bagh and Haveli, the results will be closely watched to determine whether the PML-N can consolidate its lead or if the PPP can stage a comeback amid a charged political atmosphere.
