Vote counting got underway on Monday after polling ended in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, with voting in Mirpur division extended by one hour due to an unusually high voter turnout.

Polling was held across 13 constituencies in the districts of Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber. Voting began at 8am and was originally scheduled to end at 5pm, but the Chief Election Commissioner extended polling until 6pm because of the heavy turnout.

Voters already inside polling stations at the close of polling were allowed to cast their ballots before the counting process began.

More than 1.4 million registered voters were eligible to elect representatives in the first phase of the elections, including 725,118 men and 675,628 women.

A total of 2,454 polling stations were set up across Mirpur division, including 597 in Mirpur’s four constituencies, 1,107 in Kotli’s six constituencies and 608 in Bhimber’s three constituencies.

A total of 296 candidates, including nominees of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) and independent candidates, contested the 13 seats.

More than 19,000 security personnel, including Pakistan Army troops and police, were deployed across the region to ensure peaceful and transparent polling.

Ballot box set on fire in Bhimber

Despite largely peaceful polling, violence erupted at the Baba Shadi Shaheed polling station in LA-6 Samahni Bhimber-2, where supporters of the PML-N and IPP clashed after an exchange of words escalated into a violent confrontation.

According to the Bhimber District Returning Officer (DRO), rioters snatched a ballot box and set it on fire during the disturbance. The destroyed ballot box contained 232 votes.

The DRO said polling remained normal at all other polling stations in the constituency, adding that a decision on re-polling at the affected station would be taken later.

Two presiding officers arrested

Election authorities also acted against alleged violations of the election code of conduct in Kotli, where two presiding officers were suspended and arrested after they reportedly took election material to a private residence instead of their assigned polling stations.

Officials immediately seized the election material and appointed replacement presiding officers to ensure voting continued without disruption.

A spokesperson said, “The authorities have suspended and arrested both presiding officers for violating the election code of conduct, and legal proceedings have been initiated against them under the relevant election laws.”

Officials vow strict action

Inspector General of Police AJK Liaquat Ali Malik said police would respond swiftly to any untoward incident, adding that no one, including political workers, would be allowed to take the law into their own hands.

Chief Secretary Azad Jammu and Kashmir Khushhal Khan said the people of AJK had demonstrated their confidence in the democratic process by rejecting disruptive elements.

He said all state institutions were fully prepared to ensure peaceful elections and warned that anyone attempting to disrupt the electoral process or public order would face legal action.