STAFF REPORT
MUZAFFARABAD: Polling is underway in the first phase of local body elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and will continue till 5 pm.
In the first phase, polls are being held in three districts of the Muzaffarabad division: Muzaffarabad, Neelam and Hattian. A total of 2725 candidates, including 31 women, are contesting for 614 seats, in the first local body elections since 1991. Meanwhile, 19 candidates have already been elected unopposed.
A large number of polling stations and booths have been set up for voters’ convenience. In the Muzaffarabad division, 575 candidates from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, 465 from Pakistan Muslim League-Nun, 545 from Pakistan People’s Party, 113 from Muslim Conference, 67 from Tehreek-e-Labeek, 46 from Jamaat-e-Islami and 900 independent contestants are contesting for the seats.
