Pakistan-administered Kashmir opens polls in violence-wracked vote
Summary
Pakistan-administered Kashmir began local elections amid heavy security and recent violent clashes. Voting is taking place in three phases due to safety concerns, with internet and mobile services mostly suspended during the unrest.Key Facts
- Local legislative elections began Monday in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, with voting split into three rounds.
- The area has seen violent protests recently, with nearly 40 people killed since early June.
- Security forces are heavily deployed because of clashes between protesters and police.
- About 3.8 million people are eligible to vote in this region.
- Internet and mobile services have been mostly shut down, affecting election campaigns.
- Some protest groups have called for a boycott of the vote, opposing reserved assembly seats for refugees.
- The protest movement, JAAC, was banned under anti-terrorism laws and its leaders arrested or in hiding.
- Voter turnout appeared low in the first voting district, Mirpur, during hot weather conditions.
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