Mirpur, Azad Kashmir (HRNW)-\u00a0Vote counting has begun in the third phase of the 2026 Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections after polling concluded in four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli districts in the Poonch division.<\/p>\n
According to HRNW News, polling for the third phase ended at 5 pm, after which presiding officers opened the ballot boxes in the presence of polling agents and began counting the votes.<\/p>\n
PPP leader Sherry Rehman alleged that preventing polling agents from monitoring the electoral process was against the principles of transparent elections and urged the Election Commission to intervene immediately.<\/p>\n
She said that any obstruction or irregularity in the election process could not be ignored and called on the Election Commission to address complaints without delay.<\/p>\n
PPP Punjab General Secretary Hassan Murtaza also expressed reservations about the polling process, saying that nine complaints had been submitted to the Election Commission in LA-15 and LA-16. He alleged that PPP polling staff were not allowed to reach their designated polling stations.<\/p>\n
It should be noted that following changes to the election schedule, polling had already been postponed in five constituencies of Poonch division and two constituencies of Sidhnoti.<\/p>\n
Muslim Conference chief and former Azad Kashmir prime minister Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan, Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Faisal Rathore, and IPP chief and former prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas also participated in the election activities.<\/p>\n
According to the Chief Election Commissioner, approximately 460,000 voters are registered for the four constituencies. Strict security arrangements were put in place to monitor the electoral process and maintain law and order.<\/p>\n
In the first phase of the Azad Kashmir elections, polling was held on 13 seats in the Mirpur division, where PML-N won nine seats and PPP won four.<\/p>\n
In the second phase, voting was held on nine seats in the Muzaffarabad division and 12 seats for Muhajireen constituencies. PML-N won 15 seats, while PPP secured six seats.<\/p>\n
According to the results available so far, out of the 45 seats in the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly, PML-N is leading with 24 seats, while PPP is in second place with 10 seats.<\/p>\n
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