MIRPUR:
Voting got underway here today (Sunday) in Mirpur city of Azad Jammu and Kashmir for by-election on Legislative Assembly seat, LA-III, according to sources.
A total of 10 candidates belonging to various political parties and two independent candidates are in run for the seat.
The contest is mainly between PPP’s Chaudhry Ashraf, PTI’s Barrister Sultan Mahmood and an independent candidate Ejaz Raza.
PML-N candidate Arshad Mahmood Ghazi withdrew in favor of Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf.
Rangers have been called in to assist the local civil administration to maintain peaceful environment on the day of polling.
AJK Election Commission has warned that if any of the candidate or their supporter was found involved in creating disturbance, the concerned candidate would be disqualified.
The seat had become vacant after the former AJK Prime Minister and sitting Member of the AJK Legislative Assembly Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry had resigned from the Assembly seat, leaving the ruling PPP fold to join Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).