Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir Polls Postponed Amid Law-and-Order Concerns

Amid a volatile law-and-order situation, the voting for seven of the 11 seats in the third phase of polls in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, scheduled for August 10 has been postponed for an indefinite period. After the first and second phases of the polls, which were marred by violent protests , were held on July 27 and August 2 respectively, voting was scheduled on Monday for 11 constituencies of Poonch Division in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). There are a total of 45 seats on which polls are being held for the so-called Kashmir Legislative Assembly. "The electoral process in seven constituencies of Poonch district and Sudhnoti's Pallandri will not be held on August 10," the PoK's Election Commission said in a statement. "However, polling for three constituencies of Bagh district and one in Haveli will be held on August 10 as per schedule", it said. "We have received a report from the home secretary there that shows concerns over the law-and-order situation in some areas of Poonch district and Pallandri district. The next date for the polls on these constituencies will be announced later," the statement said.