{
  "id": 27785,
  "title": "Second phase of AJK polls begins in Muzaffarabad division",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/second-phase-of-ajk-polls-begins-in-muzaffarabad-division",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-02T04:41:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2020095/second-phase-of-ajk-polls-begins-in-muzaffarabad-division"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The second phase of elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) commenced on Sunday morning, with polling taking place in nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division and all 12 refugee constituencies. The polling period is scheduled to continue until 5pm. A total of 207 candidates are vying for nine seats in Muzaffarabad division, while 137 candidates are contesting 12 refugee constituencies. There are 1,483 polling stations in Muzaffarabad division, including 533 marked as highly sensitive, 741 sensitive, and 209 normal. In the refugee constituencies, 1,057 polling stations have been established. A total of 809,621 voters are registered in Muzaffarabad division, while the combined electorate for the refugee constituencies is 438,834. The elections will be held in districts such as Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Balochistan, with polling stations in Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The PPP and PML-N, coalition partners in the federal government, have been engaged in a tense rivalry since the first phase of elections, with leaders from both parties accusing each other of rigging. Efforts have been made to resolve the dispute through multiple rounds of talks, but tensions persist. The elections in AJK have significant implications for the overall political dynamics in the region.",
  "summary": "The second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections commenced on Sunday, with polling taking place in nine constituencies of the Muzaffarabad division and all 12 refugee constituencies. Polling commenced at 8am and will continue until 5pm, with over 300 candidates contesting for nine Muzaffarabad seats and 12 refugee seats. The AJK Election Commission reported that 207 candidates are vying for nine constituencies in Muzaffarabad division, which includes five seats in Muzaffarabad district and two each in Neelum and Jhelum Valley districts. Another 137 candidates are contesting the 12 refugee constituencies, comprising six seats representing refugees from the Kashmir Valley and six from Jammu. A total of 809,621 voters are registered in Muzaffarabad division, while the 12 refugee constituencies have a combined electorate of 438,834.",
  "key_points": [
    "Second phase of AJK polls begins in Muzaffarabad division on Sunday.",
    "207 candidates contest 9 seats in Muzaffarabad division.",
    "438,834 voters registered in refugee constituencies."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn",
        "title": "Allies’ rift continues to widen as AJK polls enter 2nd phase",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/allies-rift-continues-to-widen-as-ajk-polls-enter-2nd-phase",
        "published": "2026-08-02T02:36:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}