Voting on remaining AJK Poonch division seats may be held by Aug 20-21, says CEC

MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal said on Saturday that the Election Commission had decided, for security reasons, to first complete the electoral process in four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli districts and hinted that polls in the remaining seven constituencies of Poonch division could be held by Aug 20 or 21. Talking to a group of journalists at his office, he said the commission would be in a position to announce the election date for Poonch and Sudhnoti within the next seven days, adding that voters in the two districts would have to be given time to campaign. Poonch division, comprising 11 constituencies — three in Bagh, one in Haveli, five in Poonch and two in Sudhnoti districts — has a total of 1,154,626 registered voters. Monday’s polling, however, will be held in four constituencies in Bagh and Haveli, where 460,371 voters — 238,664 men and 221,707 women — are eligible to cast their ballots at 803 polling stations with 1,254 polling booths. A total of 82 candidates are in the fray, with the highest number of 30 contesting LA-14 (Central Bagh) and the lowest, nine, in LA-17 (Haveli). The contestants include one sitting prime minister, two former prime ministers, one sitting minister, three former ministers and one sitting member of the AJK Council. “I appeal to the people of Bagh and Haveli to complete the process of change through their votes,” Justice Mughal said, adding that voting was “not only their democratic right but also a religious obligation, as it is their responsibility to ensure that the trust reaches its rightful recipient”. He said security personnel had already reached Bagh and Haveli, while transportation of polling material was under way under the supervision of the army. Asked about the oath-taking of successful candidates, the chief election commissioner said there was no constitutional impediment to them taking the oath. “However, there are moral grounds for withholding the oath until the House becomes complete following the completion of the electoral process in Poonch and Sudhnoti districts.” “Once the House is complete, elections will be held for the reserved seats, followed by elections for the speaker, deputy speaker and leader of the House,” he added. Justice Mughal said eight security personnel would be deployed at each polling station identified as highly sensitive from a security perspective. “The security personnel who had been deployed in Muzaffarabad have now been moved to Bagh and Haveli,” he said. He added that the Election Commission would try to have internet services restored in Bagh and Haveli on Aug 9 and 10 to facilitate the compilation and transmission of election results. On allegations of rigging levelled by political leaders, the CEC said the Election Commission had limitations in responding to such claims. “The Election Commission has its own limitations. Political leaders’ allegations cannot be answered through statements or political rhetoric,” he said. “Once the elections are completed, we will bring the facts before the public — whether rigging took place and, if so, who was responsible for it,” he added. Explaining the procedure for compiling results, Justice Mughal said: “The Returning Officer compiles the result, while counting is conducted beforehand in the presence of the polling agents of the candidates.” Earlier today, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said that the PML-N would form the government in AJK with a two-thirds majority. He made the remarks while addressing a rally in Bagh ahead of the third phase of elections in the region. The third phase was originally slated to be held in the 11 constituencies of Poonch division, but will now only be held in its Bagh and Haveli districts due to law and order concerns.