{
  "id": 431236,
  "title": "3rd phase of AJK polls: Voting begins in Poonch Division's Bagh and Haveli districts",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/3rd-phase-of-ajk-polls-voting-begins-in-poonch-divisions-bagh-and-431236",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-10T03:01:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn",
    "slug": "dawn",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2021864/3rd-phase-of-ajk-polls-voting-begins-in-poonch-divisions-bagh-and-haveli-districts"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The third phase of elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir has commenced in Bagh and Haveli districts of Poonch Division. Polling started at 8am and will conclude by 5pm. Government officials have expressed concerns over potential clashes in certain areas. The Election Commission considers most of the 803 polling stations in these four constituencies as either sensitive or highly sensitive, with an additional 10,300 troops deployed to ensure law and order and provide a secure environment for voters. The elections are taking place amidst tensions between protesters and authorities. In the previous phases, the PML-N secured 24 seats in Mirpur and Muzaffarabad divisions, while the PPP has only garnered 10 seats so far. Originally, the third phase was intended to cover all 11 constituencies in Poonch Division, but the Election Commission announced last week that polling would only proceed in Bagh and Haveli due to concerns over law and order. The AJK Election Commissioner has hinted that polling in the remaining seven constituencies might be held by August 20 or 21. Notable contestants include former PM Faisal Mumtaz Rathore and his predecessors, all facing off in a race for political survival. In LA-14 (Dhirkot), Rathore is contesting against PML-N candidate Engr Mohsin Aziz and independent candidate Khawaja Tariq Saeed. Aziz, backed by the Gujjar community, has held a recent significant election rally, which has boosted his campaign. Saeed, conversely, enjoys the support of a sizable section of the Kashmiri community and an alliance of several smaller clans. In LA-17 (Haveli), with only nine candidates, Rathore is up against PML-N's Engr Mohsin Aziz and independent candidate Khawaja Tariq Saeed. The constituency has seen allegations of electoral irregularities, with two presiding officers allegedly manipulating results. In LA-15 (Wasti Bagh), former Prime Minister Ilyas faces off against PML-N's Mushtaq Ahmed Minhas, PPP's Sardar Ziaul Qamar, and Jamaat-i-Islami's retired Brig Dr Mohammad Khan. Ilyas had initially boycotted the third phase but later relented, hoping his victory would propel him to the presidency or prime ministership. In LA-16 (Sharqi Bagh), Sardar Mir Akbar and Sardar Qamar Zaman are the key contenders representing the PML-N and PPP, respectively.",
  "summary": "The third phase of elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has begun in four constituencies in Poonch Division’s Bagh and Haveli districts. Polling began at 8am and will continue until 5pm. Government officials have anticipated clashes in some areas, while the Election Commission has classified most of the 803 polling stations in the four constituencies as either sensitive or highly sensitive.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "3rd phase of AJK polls: Voting begins in Poonch Division's Bagh and Haveli districts",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/10/3rd-phase-of-ajk-polls-voting-begins-in-poonch-divisions-bagh-and",
        "published": "2026-08-10T03:01:42.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}