Voting has ended in polling units as vote counting and collation of results got underway after Sunday’s election into the 45 seats of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
A total of 32,50,117 including 146,8317 female in all 33 electoral constituencies in all ten districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir voters were registered.
Moreover, all 12 constituencies meant for Pakistan-based Jammu & Kashmir refugees, exercised their right of vote to elect the Azad Jammu Kashmir Legislative Assembly, for next five years constitutional term.
Officials expect a big turnout due to the heavy campaigning that took place leading up to the July 25 elections. Previous elections in AJK were not as divisive as this one with leadership from all three parties sending in their top leaders to sway voters.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Maryam Nawaz and Imran Khan have addressed huge rallies in the lead up to today's polls. Often the rhetoric was filled with allegations leveled against their opponents.
Media analysts said most of the campaigning was about allegations and not issues faced by Kashmiris.
Gallup Pakistan on Saturday predicted a win for Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf based on a survey they conducted in the region.
According to a report in Dawn on Sunday, "there are 3.22 million voters registered in the 45 constituencies. Among them, 2,817,090 voters are registered in 33 constituencies of the AJK assembly. Of the remaining voters, 373,652 are registered in the six constituencies representing the refugees from occupied Jammu and 29,804 are registered in the six constituencies representing the refugees from occupied Kashmir Valley. These 12 constituencies representing refugees from occupied Jammu and Kashmir Valley have a total of 403,456 registered voters."
The army had been called in to monitor the situation and ensure voting is held in a peaceful manner.
Elections are expected to be announced an hour after polling closes.
At least one killed in clashes between political parties in Kotli
According to the reports two political party workers were killed in clashes between Pakistan People Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) in Kotli.
