Polling begins in Poonch Divisions's Bagh, Haveli in third phase of AJK elections

Polling began in four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli in the Poonch Division on Monday in the third phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir's (AJK) general elections, with the outcome set to play a crucial role in determining the balance of power in the 45-member Legislative Assembly and the formation of the next government. The AJK general elections were scheduled to be held in three phases after the Election Commission revised the polling plan, with voting in Mirpur Division held on July 27, followed by Muzaffarabad Division and the 12 constituencies reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled in Pakistan on August 2, while Poonch Division is due to vote on August 10. A total of 460,371 registered voters, including 238,664 men and 221,707 women, are eligible to cast their ballots in the four constituencies.

The AJK Election Commission has established 803 polling stations comprising 1,254 polling booths. Eighty-two candidates are contesting the four seats, with several prominent political figures in the electoral race. AJK Prime Minister Faisal Rathore is contesting from Haveli, while former prime ministers Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan and Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan are among the major candidates in Bagh and Dhirkot.

PML-N Senior Vice President Mushtaq Minhas is also contesting. Other prominent contestants include Awam Dast-e-Bazu party candidate Sajid Iqbal Abbasi from Dhirkot and Khawaja Tariq Saeed from Haveli. JI candidate Brig (retd) Muhammad Khan, PPP candidates Zia-ul-Qamar and Qamar Zaman, and PML-N candidates Mir Akbar and Mohsin Aziz are also among the key contenders.

PML-N's Faisal Azad is contesting from Dhirkot. Read: PML-N intensifies AJK election campaign in crucial third phase The four constituencies — LA-14 Bagh-I, LA-15 Bagh-II, LA-16 Bagh-III and LA-17 Bagh/Haveli Kahuta — are witnessing contests involving the PML-N, PPP, JI, Muslim Conference, IPP, independents and other political groups. The Bagh-Haveli contests are particularly significant because the PML-N emerged as the leading party after the first two phases.

However, the third phase is expected to produce several closely fought battles involving the PPP, the PML-N, the JI, the Muslim Conference, the IPP, independents and other political groups. The Election Commission has put special security arrangements in place at sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations. Polling will be held in four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli on Monday (today), marking the third scheduled phase of the 2026 general elections to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly, with the outcome expected to significantly affect the formation of the next government.

The Election Commission (AJKEC) has completed polling arrangements, while candidates and their supporters have intensified last-minute voter-contact campaigns following the expiry of the formal campaign period. Special security measures are in place at sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations to ensure a peaceful electoral process. The AJKEC established 803 polling stations with 1,254 polling booths for the exercise.