News
Sunday, June 26, 2011
AJK elections today, MQM boycotts
* MQM boycotts in protest over postponement of polls in three constituencies
ISLAMABAD: The polling for 38 seats of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections would be held today (Sunday) without the participation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), as it has decided to boycott the elections in protest against the postponement of the polls in LA-30, LA-36 and LA-41.
According to the final list issued by the Election Commission, the total number of voters was 3,017,816. Around 5,559 polling stations have been set up along with 6,448 booths. As many as 4,351 presiding officers, 6,448 polling officers and 12,896 polling assistants have also been appointed to supervise the election.
Separately, the Muzaffarabad High Court (MHC) has postponed the elections on three constitutional assembly seats in the LA-30, LA-36 and LA-41 constituencies of AJK.
The citizens of the LA-41 constituency appealed to the MHC that their names had been removed from the voters’ list. They demanded that their names should be included in the list again. As a consequence, the court deferred voting in the constituency.
The elections in LA-30 Karachi Jammu 1 and LA-36 Karachi Kashmir Valley 1 have also been postponed.
Addressing a press conference on Saturday, MQM Deputy Convener Dr Farooq Sattar said that it was unconstitutional to postpone polling in three constitutional seats.
According to the AJK Election Commission, all arrangements had been finalised for the elections.
Para-military troops, including Rangers, Punjab Constabulary, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police and Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts landed in ten districts of AJK to ensure a peaceful atmosphere as well as to avoid any untoward incident on the election day.
Friday was the last day of the election campaign, and all the candidates spent a hectic day for canvassing the voters.
According to the Election Commission the total number of candidates, contesting the election from 29 constituencies in AJK was 308. app
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk