Muzaffarabad: Polling is in progress for the second phase of the elections to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly, involving nine constituencies within the Muzaffarabad Division and all twelve constituencies designated for Kashmiri refugees who reside in Pakistan. Voting began at eight in the morning and is expected to continue without interruption until five in the evening.

According to Radio Pakistan, the AJK Election Commission reports that 809,621 voters are registered in the Muzaffarabad division, comprising 427,955 men and 381,666 women. The electoral process includes nine general constituencies within the division and extends to polling for twelve refugee seats in Pakistan. Authorities have established a total of 1,483 polling stations throughout the Muzaffarabad division, along with 1,057 polling stations to accommodate voters from the refugee constituencies.

In a related development, refugees from Jammu and Kashmir have advocated for the retention of the twelve reserved refugee seats. They emphasize that these seats are crucial for safeguarding their identity, culture, and representation. Additionally, they have expressed gratitude to the government and the people of Pakistan for their ongoing support and solidarity.