Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir goes to polls

Muzaffarabad, July 11 (UNI) More than 2.4 million voters were today exercising franchise in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK) to elect 41 legislators for the formation of a new government, reports said.

The polling began at 0800 hrs. Thousands of troops have been deployed at all the constituencies to ensure 'free and fair polls', the official Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) reported.

PoK's Election Commission made arrangements to hold ''smooth'' elections, which are being held nine months after the October 8 earthquake, which had killed thousands of people.

Identity cards have been made essential for voters for exercising their franchise.

The political parties and independents candidates showed complete discipline in observing the code of conduct and rules introduced by the Election Commission.

The total strength of the PoK Legislative Assembly is 49 in which 41 are elected directly while the remaining eight seats are elected indirectly by the legislators out of which five seats are reserved for women and one each for Ulema Mashikh, technocrats and ''overseas Kashmiris''.

A total of 3746 polling stations has been set up all 41 constituencies to enable the people to elect their legislators for a five-year term.

Out of total 369 candidates some 197 belonged to 17 political parties and the rest 172 were independents.

The ruling Party Muslim Conference had fielded 40, while Peoples Muslim League, 37, Pakistan Peoples Party, 36, Muttahida Majlis Amal, 33 and Muttahida Qaumi Movement had put up 23 candidates.

UNI XC PA KN1650