Two PTI activists shot dead as violence mars Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections

Tariq Butt, Correspondent

At least two political workers of the Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) were killed in a clash with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) activists in Kotli as the polling for 45 general seats of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly (AJKLA) was held on Sunday.

More than 700 candidates were taking part in the AJKLA elections. About 3.2 million people are registered to vote. Unofficial results are likely to be announced overnight.

The deceased were identified as 40-year-old Zaheer Ahmed and 50-year-old Ramzan.

Police said that the clash erupted between PPP and PTI workers. In the ensuing gunfire, Ahmed was killed on the spot and Ramzan died on the way to the hospital.

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In one incident in Gujranwala, the  Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) polling agents were expelled from the polling stations. It was alleged that the Punjab government was influencing the voting process for the refugees’ seats.

A heated and highly charged election campaign preceded the D-Day. Deemed as the consequential moment for the state, the polling took place amid ramped-up security.

Thirty-two political and religious parties participated in the exercise.

Those elected will choose eight reserved seats, five for women and one each for religious scholars, technocrats, and overseas Kashmiris.

Of the 45 general seats, 12 seats are reserved for Kashmiri refugees who had migrated from the occupied Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 and 1965 and are settled in various parts of Pakistan. In 10 AJK districts, elections were held for 33 seats having over 3.22 million voters.