BAGH, Azad Jammu and Kashmir: Polling began Monday in four Bagh and Haveli constituencies, with 460,371 registered voters eligible to cast ballots.
Voting opened at 8 a.m. and was scheduled to continue until 5 p.m according to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission.
The four contests cover three Bagh constituencies and one Haveli constituency in Poonch Division. Authorities established 803 polling stations across the two districts.
Election Commission Secretary Raja Muhammad Shakeel said authorities deployed 10,300 additional security personnel. Local police also guarded polling sites.
Read: PPP Demands Re-Polling at AJK Stations Above 80% Turnout
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman alleged that voting began late at several polling stations in LA-15 and LA-16. She asked the commission to extend voting rights in cases of delay.
Rehman also claimed officials stopped PPP agents from entering polling stations 119 and 120. The Election Commission had not publicly confirmed those claims.
Read: AJK Election: PML-N Targets Two-Thirds Majority
Shakeel said that officials were addressing complaints received by the commission. He said authorities had also deployed the Quick Response Force where required.
The commission postponed voting in seven constituencies across Poonch and Sudhnoti districts over security concerns. It will issue a revised schedule after reviewing the situation.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won 24 seats during the first two phases. The PPP secured 10 seats in the preliminary election results.
