• Any attempt to disrupt polling will invite strict action, CEC warns
• Three-tier security plan in place as JAAC plans march towards Muzaffarabad
• 22,000 personnel on duty in Mirpur as 1.4m registered voters expected to head to polls

MIRPUR: With polling material delivered to returning officers, election personnel deployed and security put on high alert for the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal has urged more than 1.4 million registered voters to turn out in large numbers to elect their representatives from the 13 constituencies of Mirpur division on Monday.

A total of 288 candidates are contesting the elections.

Monday has been declared a public holiday in all three districts — Bhimber, Mirpur, and Kotli — of the Mirpur division to facilitate polling.

The CEC, in a video message, said elaborate security arrangements had been made for the polls, with security forces and Quick Response Force teams deployed at polling stations and security also being ensured for voters travelling to and from polling stations. He warned that anyone attempting to disrupt the polling process would face strict legal action.

The warning followed the announcement by a proscribed group on the social media about a planned long march from Mirpur division towards Muzaffarabad on Sunday. A core member of the proscribed JAAC, Umar Nazir Kashmiri, had claimed that caravans would converge at the Rawalakot sit-in, before marching towards Muzaffarabad after Zuhr prayers on the election day.

However, when Mirpur DIG police was asked about the protest call given by the banned outfit, the official told Dawn on Sunday evening that not a single person had turned up anywhere to participate in any Rawalakot-bound rally.

Also, AJK Chief Secretary Khushal Khan warned of strict legal action against anyone attempting to disrupt the polling process or disturb public order afterwards.

According to the Election Commission, polling will be held at 2,316 polling stations, of which 1,241 have been declared ‘highly sensitive’ and 724 ‘sensitive’.

Election monitoring has been organised through 13 zones and 205 sectors across the division, while 18,560 personnel from police and other law enforcement agencies have been deployed under a three-tier security plan.

Under the arrangement, police will provide the first layer of security, Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) and the Federal Constabulary the second, and the Pakistan Army the third. Around 2,100 army personnel will also be deployed, while Quick Response Force teams will remain on standby to respond to any emergency.

Addressing a joint press conference in Muzaffarabad earlier in the day, Chief Secretary Khushal Khan and Election Commission Secretary Raja Muhammad Shakeel said the district administration, the Election Commission and other relevant institutions had completed all necessary preparations for the electoral process.

Mr Khan expressed confidence that the people of AJK would continue their tradition of peacefully exercising their right to vote and said voter turnout, which had historically remained high in the region, was expected to remain strong this time as well.

He warned that authorities were closely monitoring misleading propaganda about the elections on social media and said strict legal action would be taken against anyone attempting to disrupt the polling process or disturb public order.

He maintained that all state institutions were fully prepared to ensure transparent, free and peaceful elections.

Mr Shakeel said the CEC had visited Mirpur to review the arrangements and expressed satisfaction over the preparations, as around 22,000 election personnel had been deployed and polling material had already reached polling stations. Police, Rangers and the Federal Constabulary had been deployed as part of heightened security measures, he explained.

He said election campaigns had continued peacefully across all districts without any untoward incident while an old video calling for an election boycott was re-circulated on social media to create a false impression before polling. He added members of the public themselves were lodging complaints against elements attempting to obstruct the electoral process, reflecting public confidence in the election system.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2026