Polling for the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections will be held on Sunday, with the distribution of election materials underway and authorities stepping up security arrangements ahead of the vote.

Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal has convened a meeting on Saturday to review the security situation and ensure law and order on polling day.

More than 1.24 million registered voters will cast their ballots for 21 Legislative Assembly seats, with a total of 331 candidates, including nominees of political parties and independents, contesting the elections.

In Muzaffarabad Division, polling will be held in nine constituencies across the districts of Muzaffarabad, Neelum and Jhelum Valley.

The division has 860,621 registered voters, including 427,955 men and 381,666 women.

Election authorities have established 1,483 polling stations, while polling materials are being dispatched to their designated locations.

A total of 188 candidates are in the race for the nine seats in Muzaffarabad Division.

Polling will also be held for the 12 reserved refugee constituencies of the AJK Legislative Assembly, comprising six seats each for refugees from Jammu and the Kashmir Valley.

More than 400,000 registered refugee voters residing in different cities across Pakistan will exercise their right to vote, with 143 candidates competing for the 12 refugee seats.

Authorities have said all necessary arrangements have been completed to ensure peaceful, transparent and orderly polling across the region.