The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has announced a public holiday on July 27 across Mirpur division on the occasion of the first phase of the elections for the legislative assembly. The goal of this decision is to offer voters easy access on polling day and to ensure election exercises are conducted orderly.
Services and General Administration department gave an official notification on the instructions of the Election Commission. This holiday has been notified only for the districts of Mirpur division and the first phase of polling for the Legislative Assembly elections is to be held here.
Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal said that it has been decided to hold elections in AJK in three phases in view of administrative convenience, effective security and transparency in the electoral process. The Pakistan Army and other law enforcement agencies will also deploy their personnel to ensure law and order during the polling, he said.
The election schedule says that the first phase of polling will be in Mirpur division on July 27. Voting will take place during the second phase on 2 August in Muzaffarabad division and during the third phase on 10 August in Poonch division, with the seats dedicated to refugees.
The phased election time table will help in better management of security, timely delivery of election materials and administration, election officials said. He also appealed to political parties, candidates and the voters to uphold the electoral code of conduct to ensure the electoral process is conducted peacefully, transparently and orderly.