Voting Continues Until 6pm Under Tight Security
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission extended polling by one hour on Sunday amid delays, security concerns and allegations of electoral irregularities.
Voting was originally scheduled from 8am until 5pm. The process was allowed to continue until 6pm to provide voters with additional time.
The second phase covered 21 constituencies. These included nine territorial seats in Muzaffarabad Division and 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees living across Pakistan.
More than 1.2 million registered voters were eligible to participate.
A total of 208 candidates contested the nine Muzaffarabad Division seats. Another 143 candidates competed for the 12 refugee constituencies.
This brought the total number of candidates in the second phase to 351. The wider election is being held in three phases because of security concerns.
Strict security measures were introduced at polling stations across Muzaffarabad Division.
Security was also strengthened at refugee polling centres established in different parts of Pakistan.
Police and other security personnel were deployed to prevent violence, maintain order and protect election officials.
However, several incidents disrupted polling during the day.
Voting in LA-27 Muzaffarabad-I was postponed after election materials failed to reach polling stations.
Authorities said landslides prevented ballot papers and other required supplies from being delivered to affected locations.
The postponed election in LA-27 is now scheduled for August 4, according to the latest announcement.
PPP Alleges Attack on Chaudhry Latif Akbar
The Pakistan Peoples Party alleged that acting AJK President and LA-31 candidate Chaudhry Latif Akbar was physically attacked during polling.
The party submitted an emergency complaint to the AJK chief election commissioner.
It named Yasir Shah, Ahmad Shah and Fawad Shah as the alleged attackers.
These claims remain allegations and had not been established through an official investigation at the time of reporting.
The PPP described the incident as an attack on both the electoral process and a senior constitutional office.
It demanded the immediate registration of a criminal case and the arrest of the nominated suspects.
The party also requested stronger security for Latif Akbar during the remaining election process.
It called for an investigation into possible security failures at the polling station.
The complaint was submitted by Abdul Shakoor, head of the PPP AJK Election Cell.
Copies were sent to election officials, senior police officers, the district administration, the chief secretary and the AJK Home Department.
AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore also took notice of the reported attack.
He instructed the chief secretary and inspector general of police to take immediate action against those responsible.
Rathore expressed concern over the security arrangements surrounding the election.
He alleged that individuals associated with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz were involved.
The allegation had not been independently confirmed, and the PML-N had not issued an immediate detailed response.
PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira also condemned the reported incident.
He questioned why sufficient security had not been provided to a person holding such an important constitutional position.
Kaira further claimed that a PPP worker had been killed in firing in LA-31.
He also accused PML-N workers of removing election officials from polling stations and illegally marking ballot papers.
These allegations require investigation and confirmation by election and law-enforcement authorities.
Polling Disputes Reported in Several Constituencies
Polling was temporarily suspended at Ghamrola Polling Station in LA-37 after a dispute over alleged irregularities.
Markazi Muslim League candidate Usman Aleem claimed that unauthorised voting slips had been used.
He also alleged that ballot papers from a women’s polling station lacked required identity verification and thumb impressions.
The candidate accused government supporters of attempting to influence the result.
No official finding had confirmed the alleged fraudulent votes at the time of reporting.
Another disruption occurred at Polling Station No. 37 in Bhaghwal, Gujrat.
Voting was temporarily suspended during polling for the LA-38 Jammu-V refugee constituency.
The disruption followed a clash between workers of the PML-N and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid.
Authorities stopped the process temporarily while security personnel worked to restore order.
The PPP also submitted a separate complaint about delays in LA-28.
The party alleged that election staff failed to reach 71 polling stations before the scheduled opening time.
It said the delay created difficulties for voters and prevented polling from beginning as planned.
The complaint was filed on behalf of PPP candidate Syed Bazal Naqvi.
The party asked the Election Commission to send staff to the affected stations immediately.
It also demanded compensation for the lost voting time and requested a formal inquiry.
The PPP said officials should record the exact starting time at every affected polling station.
This information could help determine whether voters received sufficient time to cast their ballots.
Mirwaiz Calls for Protection of Refugee Votes
Kashmiri religious and political leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq called for the protection of voting rights for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan.
He said their constitutional and democratic rights must not be overlooked.
The second phase included all 12 constituencies reserved for refugees from Jammu and Kashmir who are settled in Pakistan.
Mirwaiz said refugee rights formed an important part of the collective political rights of the Kashmiri people.
He argued that fair representation for people from every region would strengthen their shared political position.
The Election Commission now faces pressure to examine the complaints, investigate reported violence and ensure transparency during vote counting.
Election authorities will also need to determine whether the reported delays and temporary suspensions affected voters’ ability to participate.
The second phase became one of the most contested stages of the AJK elections.
Attention will now turn towards the counting process, official results and possible legal challenges from political parties.
