MUZAFFARABAD: More than 80pc of government employees deployed on election duty in 26 territorial constituencies of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly cast their votes in advance polling on Monday, officials said.

Election Commission Secretary Raja Mohammad Shakeel told Dawn that advance polling was held in 26 constituencies after the election in one Sudhnoti constituency was cancelled following the death of an independent candidate.

The commission had originally scheduled advance polling for election staff in the remaining 32 territorial constituencies on July 20. However, it later postponed polling in five constituencies of Poonch district and one constituency of Sudhnoti owing to the prevailing law and order situation.

“A total of 24,107 government employees were assigned election duties in the 26 constituencies, and around 80pc of them cast their votes in a peaceful, orderly atmosphere,” Mr Shakeel said.

Chief Election Commissioner retired Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal visited polling stations at the district headquarters complex in Muzaffarabad and expressed satisfaction over the arrangements and voter turnout.

He was accompanied by Senior Member Khawaja Mohammad Ahsen, Member Syed Nazeerul Hassan Gillani, Secretary Raja Mohammad Shakeel and other officials.

Separate polling booths were set up for male and female government employees at polling stations. Male and female police personnel, along with duty magistrates, were deployed to ensure security and oversee the polling process throughout the day.

Speaking to reporters, Mr Mughal appreciated the enthusiasm shown by government employees in exercising their right to vote and expressed the hope that the remaining electoral process would also be completed in a peaceful and orderly manner.

He said the successful conduct of advance polling reflected the commission’s preparedness to hold the July 27 elections.

“There is no question of delaying the elections. The polls will be held on schedule under all circumstances, and no attempt to disrupt the democratic process will be allowed to succeed,” he said.

Mr Mughal said government employees exercised their voting rights peacefully without any major untoward incident and appreciated the coordination among the Election Commission, district administrations and law enforcement agencies.

He said comprehensive security arrangements, involving the Pakistan Army, Rangers and the Quick Response Force, had been finalised for polling day.

Mr Ahsen informed reporters that the dispatch of election material to returning officers had been completed and the remaining logistical arrangements were progressing according to schedule.

With a week left before voters elect members to the Legislative Assembly, the successful completion of advance polling has provided the Election Commission with an important operational test of its arrangements ahead of polling day, he said.

Mr Gillani later told journalists that the ballot boxes used during the advance polling had been sealed in accordance with the prescribed legal procedure and handed over to the respective returning officers under strict security.

“The votes cast by government employees will remain sealed until July 27, when they will be counted along with ballots cast on election day,” he added.

Published in Dawn, July 21st, 2026