The political atmosphere across the region reached a high point as voting officially got underway in the southern territory. In what marks a critical democratic milestone, the First Phase of AJK Polls Begins across the 13 electoral constituencies of the Mirpur division, setting off a three-part electoral cycle that will determine the future legislative landscape of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

From early morning at 8:00 AM, voters began turning up at polling stations to cast their ballots, with voting slated to run continuously until 5:00 PM. To ensure smooth participation and enable citizens to exercise their right to vote, authorities declared a public holiday across all three primary districts of the division: Bhimber, Mirpur, and Kotli.

As the First Phase of AJK Polls Begins, local authorities face the immense task of overseeing a massive electoral exercise while maintaining strict public order and stability.

Polling Infrastructure and Ground Realities

A total of 288 candidates are competing for public support in this opening leg. Managing an exercise of this scale requires a comprehensive logistics network:

Because over half of the polling stations have been categorized as highly sensitive, security protocols have been ramped up significantly as the First Phase of AJK Polls Begins in the region.

A Multi-Layered Security Apparatus

To prevent civil disruption and ensure voter safety, a strict three-tier security architecture has been put into action:

• First Tier (Ground Level): Local police personnel maintain direct presence inside and around polling stations to manage lines and daily oversight.

• Second Tier (Perimeter Control): Troops from Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), Pakistan Rangers (Sindh), and the Federal Constabulary secure outer perimeters and critical transport arteries.

• Third Tier (Strategic Reserve): Approximately 2,100 personnel from the Pakistan Army are stationed at strategic points, supported by Quick Response Force (QRF) units primed for rapid deployment.

Splitting the overall election process into three distinct geographic phases was a direct measure taken due to ongoing regional security and administrative concerns:

Phase 1: Mirpur Division (Bhimber, Mirpur, Kotli)

Phase 2: Muzaffarabad Division & Refugee Constituencies (Scheduled for August 2)

Phase 3: Poonch Division (Scheduled for August 10)

This phased approach guarantees that central law enforcement can reallocate assets efficiently as the First Phase of AJK Polls Begins and subsequently moves northward.

Calls for Peace Amid Protests and Tensions

Ahead of the opening bell, AJK Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal released a public statement urging over 1.4 million registered voters across the division to participate actively. He emphasized that strict legal measures would be taken against anyone attempting to interfere with voter movement or disrupt the peace.

These warnings came in the backdrop of calls from the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which had advocated on social media for a long march converging on Rawalakot before moving toward Muzaffarabad. However, local law enforcement confirmed that public turnout for the protest call remained non-existent across the division on Sunday evening, allowing focus to shift back to the polling booths as the First Phase of AJK Polls Begins.

AJK Chief Secretary Khushal Khan echoed these sentiments, reiterating that any attempt to destabilize the electoral environment or provoke post-poll agitation would be met with an immediate legal response.

Political High Stakes: The Bilawal vs. Nawaz Showdown

Beyond administrative coordination, the elections have turned into a high-stakes political battleground between major political heavyweights — namely Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).

Campaigning reached a fever pitch in the days leading up to voting day:

• Nawaz Sharif’s Campaign Push: Speaking in Mirpur, the PML-N leader took direct aim at the PPP leadership, quipping that Kashmir should not be confused with Kashmore, nor Mirpur with Mirpurkhas — drawing sharp comparisons to PPP’s long-standing rule in Sindh. Furthermore, the PML-N-led administration announced development initiatives, including “gifting” 10 electric buses and mobile clinic units to Muzaffarabad and Mirpur.

• Bilawal Bhutto’s Counterattack: The PPP leadership rejected the gesture, raising concerns over election code violations. Bilawal responded sharply that public infrastructure built with taxpayer money is a fundamental right of the electorate, not a gift from individual politicians, adding that citizens across all regions remain firm in defending their rights.

This intense rivalry has turned every single constituency into a marquee battle, drawing national attention as the First Phase of AJK Polls Begins.

What Lies Ahead for the Region?

As the First Phase of AJK Polls Begins, eyes remain glued to the voter turnout figures in Mirpur, Bhimber, and Kotli. The outcome of today’s vote will likely set the political momentum for the subsequent phases in Muzaffarabad and Poonch.

Whether voters lean toward established political narratives or opt for alternative voices, this election phase represents a crucial test for local governance, security stability, and regional democratic processes. Citizens hope that as the First Phase of AJK Polls Begins smoothly, the remainder of the election cycle will conclude peacefully, laying the groundwork for sustainable economic development and governance across Azad Kashmir.