MIRPUR: AJK Elections entered a crucial stage on Monday as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) took an early lead. The party won five of the first seven declared seats in the opening phase of polling across Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Mirpur Division. However, violent clashes, a fatal shooting, and allegations of pre-poll rigging overshadowed the vote.

Unofficial and provisional results showed the PML-N winning LA-1 Mirpur, LA-4 Mirpur, LA-7 Bhimber-3, LA-9 Kotli-2, and one more declared constituency. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured LA-2 Mirpur and LA-3 Mirpur. Election officials continued counting votes in the remaining constituencies late into the evening.

Voters cast ballots in all 13 constituencies across Mirpur, Kotli, and Bhimber. Polling started at 8:00 a.m. and ended at 6:00 p.m. Police, Rangers, the Pakistan Army, and other law enforcement agencies secured polling stations throughout the day.

More than 1.4 million registered voters qualified to vote in the first phase. The Election Commission set up 2,454 polling stations and deployed about 22,000 election officials. It declared 1,965 polling stations sensitive or highly sensitive. Authorities also deployed more than 19,000 security personnel across the division. Another 2,100 Army troops remained on standby for emergencies.

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The Election Commission is conducting the elections in three phases. Mirpur Division voted first. Muzaffarabad Division and 12 refugee constituencies will vote on August 2. Poonch (Rawalakot) Division will go to the polls on August 10.

Polling remained peaceful during the morning. Violence erupted later in LA-9 Kotli-II (Nakyal). Supporters of the PPP and the PML-N clashed, raising tensions in the constituency.

The PPP said party worker Mukhtar Younus died after supporters of a PML-N candidate allegedly opened fire. Mirpur Commissioner Raja Tahir Mumtaz confirmed that one man died in the incident. Two others, including the victim’s father, also suffered injuries.

The PML-N rejected the PPP’s version of events. Party leaders claimed that Younus had previously taken part in their election campaign.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari condemned the killing. He accused supporters of PML-N candidate Sardar Umair Naeem of carrying out the attack. Bilawal also criticized election authorities and law enforcement agencies. He argued that earlier action against public displays of weapons could have prevented the incident.

PPP leader Shazia Marri also condemned the violence. She expressed condolences to the victim’s family and demanded the immediate arrest of those responsible. She said such attacks would not weaken the PPP’s commitment to democracy.

Before voting began, the PML-N accused the PPP of attempting pre-poll rigging in LA-10 Kotli. Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah alleged that election officials committed irregularities. He insisted that his party would not accept the constituency’s result until authorities completed an inquiry.

The Election Commission later confirmed the arrest and suspension of two presiding officers. Officials found them at a private residence instead of their assigned polling stations. The commission started legal proceedings and immediately appointed replacement officers to continue polling.

Police also registered an FIR before polling. Investigators named three presiding officers in the case. Authorities continue investigating the allegations while election officials compile results from the remaining constituencies.