Geo Pakistan

AJK Legislative Assembly polling continues

ISLAMABAD: Polling for 38 seats out of 41 of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections continue here today (Sunday) without participation of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) as it decided to boycott the elections in protest against postponement of polls in LA-30, LA-36 and LA-41, Geo News reported. As many as 390 candidates from 22 political and religious parties besides independent candidates are contesting the elections in which 2.9 million voters would exercise their right of franchise. 4,349 polling stations have been set up for casting votes in 29 state and 12 Mohajereen constituencies out of which 626 have been declared highly sensitive, 886 and 2,854 normal. Polling started at 8.00 A.M. in the morning and will continue without break up to 5.00 P.M. Ballot papers and ballot boxes have already been sent to the polling stations besides polling staff are posted. A strong contingent of27,000 police and rangers have been deputed, while two brigades of troops have also been kept stand-by for holding peaceful elections. Polling since morning for AJK elections also continue in the 18 districts of Khayber Pukhtunkhaw including Peshawar, Chitral, Dir, Mardan and Dera Ismail Khan. 3,206 KIashmiri Mohajereen would be casting votes in the province. Peshawar Cinema Road has been closed for the traffic during the polling, while security arrangements made are quite stringent. Pillion riding and entry of the Afghan Mohajereen in the city are already banned. In Lahore, LA-37 seat for AJK legislative assembly about 7,000 votes will exercise their right of franchise. Besides People’s Party and Muslim Conference, Muslim League-N has also fielded their consisates, while MQM has boycotted the elections. Kashmiris resident in Lahore, Nankana Saheb and Sheikhupura Valley seat LA-37 registered votes count 6,799, while 12 polling stations in Lahore and one in Sheikhupura has been set up. PPP’s former MLA Ghulam Mohiuddin Dewan, ML-N Ghulam Abbas Mir and Muslim Conference Khawja Basir Ahmad included all 10 candidates contesting in this constituency. The candidates have blamed each other for misusing the government machinery.