Voting is underway in the third and final phase of legislative elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, but only four of the 11 constituencies originally scheduled to vote are taking part due to ongoing unrest and security concerns.
More than 800 polling stations opened at 8am local time on Monday across Bagh and Haveli districts in the Poonch division. About 460,000 voters are registered to cast their ballots, with polling scheduled to close at 5pm.
Elections in the remaining seven constituencies—five in Poonch and two in Sudhnoti—were postponed last week. Officials said a new date would be announced after security conditions improve.
The election has been overshadowed by weeks of protests led by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which has demanded the removal of 12 seats in the regional Legislative Assembly reserved for displaced Kashmiris living elsewhere in Pakistan.
More than 50 people have reportedly been killed during clashes linked to the protests, according to residents and rights groups. The government has not released an official civilian death toll but says at least seven police and paramilitary personnel have been killed.
The JAAC, which has urged voters to boycott the elections, was banned by authorities in June under anti-terrorism laws.
International media organisations have also faced restrictions, with foreign journalists ordered to leave the region and told they must obtain government clearance before returning.
The 53-member Legislative Assembly election is being conducted in three phases. The first phase, held in Mirpur on July 27, saw the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) win nine of 13 seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured four.
In the second phase on August 2, covering the Muzaffarabad division and 12 refugee constituencies across Pakistan, the PML-N won 15 seats and the PPP secured six.
Voter turnout has declined compared with previous elections, reaching 46 percent in the first phase and 53 percent in the second, compared with more than 60 percent in both 2016 and 2021.
The reduced third phase comes as Poonch continues to experience political unrest and an internet shutdown that has lasted for more than 50 days.
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