Islamabad: Voting for the first phase of elections to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) Legislative Assembly commenced on Sunday under heightened security, with authorities deploying thousands of security personnel amid concerns over possible unrest following weeks of political turmoil and protests.
The elections, being conducted in three phases until August 10, will decide representatives for 45 directly elected seats in the 53-member assembly. The remaining eight seats are reserved for women, technocrats and religious scholars under the existing electoral framework.
According to PoK Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, polling in 13 constituencies of the Mirpur division is being held in the first phase. The second phase, scheduled for August 2, will cover nine constituencies in the Muzaffarabad division along with all 12 refugee constituencies, while the remaining 11 constituencies in the Poonch division will vote on August 10.
Security arrangements have been significantly strengthened ahead of the polls. Officials said nearly 14,000 police personnel from Pakistan’s Punjab province have been deployed across the region to maintain law and order. Reports indicate that around 30 per cent of the deployed force is armed, while the remaining personnel have been equipped with anti-riot gear to deal with any untoward incidents.
The heavy deployment follows months of political unrest in the region, where demonstrations organised by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) escalated into violent confrontations with security forces. The group had been demanding the abolition of the assembly’s refugee seats, arguing that the existing arrangement required electoral reforms.
The protests reportedly continued for nearly two months and witnessed multiple incidents of violence, resulting in casualties among both civilians and security personnel. Following the unrest, Pakistani authorities imposed a ban on the JAAC.
The elections have also taken on political significance, with the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) contesting against its coalition partner, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has chosen to boycott the electoral process.
India has consistently maintained that the entire territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas under Pakistan’s control, are an integral part of India. New Delhi has repeatedly described Pakistan’s presence in these regions as an illegal occupation.
Earlier this month, India also commented on the protests in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, stating that the demonstrations reflected growing public dissatisfaction over governance and long-standing administrative issues in the region. The Ministry of External Affairs also criticised reports of police action against protesters and reiterated its position on the status of the territory.
With polling underway amid heightened security and political uncertainty, authorities remain on alert as the election process continues over the next two weeks. The outcome is expected to shape the political landscape in the region against the backdrop of ongoing unrest and competing political interests.
