Schedule for third phase of AJK polls revised over law and order concerns

WEB DESK: The schedule for the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections has been revised, with polling on August 10 to be held only in Poonch and Bagh districts of the Poonch Division.

The Poonch and Bagh districts comprise eight constituencies, three in Bagh and five in Poonch. Meanwhile, elections in Haveli and Sudhnoti districts have been postponed due to law and order concerns.

The decision was taken after a detailed review of the “current situation” surrounding the scheduled elections in Poonch and Haveli regions, the AJK Election Commission said in a press release issued on Friday.

The commission said it received a report from AJK Home Secretary highlighting “concerns over the law and order situation in some areas of Poonch district and Pallandri district.”

“Moreover, the Election Commission received requests from several political figures and candidates from these districts, seeking postponement of elections in Poonch and Pallandri in view of the current situation,” the statement added.

The electoral body said it would announce new polling dates and a revised election schedule for Poonch and Pallandri after reviewing the situation and considering all relevant matters.

The AJK Election Commission is conducting the elections in three phases amid tensions between protesters and authorities. Polling in the Mirpur and Muzaffarabad divisions was held on July 27 and August 2, respectively.

Rawalakot has witnessed unrest since early June, with the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) staging periodic sit-ins.

The JAAC has been demanding the abolition of 12 seats in the local legislature reserved for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir and has been holding protests in the region for several weeks.

The government has accused elements of pursuing a “foreign agenda” and receiving Indian funding of fueling unrest in the region.