Kashmir braces for electoral battle

The election campaign in 41 constituencies of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly ended at Friday midnight.Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Nawaz Sharif led their parties’ campaign, making loads of promises with Kashmiris.The polling will start at 8am on Sunday and will continue until 5pm.The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly is consists of 49 seats out of which 41 candidates are elected through direct polls while 8 seats are reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan.The total number of voters is 3,017,856. Some 5,566 polling stations have been set up.There are 74 candidates are contesting for the eight reserved seats in Pakistan.Though various political parties are contesting the elections but the real contest is expected between the Pakistan People’s Party, AJK’s ruling Muslim Conference and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.Punjab Police, Rangers and Frontier Constabulary personnel have been called to maintain the law and order situation during the AJK polls.