AJK election chief urges neutrality, transparency as polling staff trained ahead of Elections

MIRPUR (AJK), Jul 22 (APP):The chief election commissioner of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Wednesday called on polling officials to uphold neutrality and transparency as authorities intensified preparations for the region’s July 27 general elections.

Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd.), Ghulam Mustafa Mughal told an orientation session for presiding officers in Mirpur that free, fair and transparent elections depended largely on the professionalism and integrity of polling staff.

“Conducting transparent and impartial elections is both a major responsibility and a challenge for the Election Commission,” Mughal said, urging election officials to perform their duties with honesty, dedication and impartiality.

Accompanied by Election Commission Secretary, Raja Muhammad Shakeel Khan, Mughal inspected training arrangements for presiding officers at election training centers.

 Additional District and Sessions Judge, Chaudhry Munir Hussain, Returning Officers Sardar Ghazanfar Khan and Aftab Tariq Mir addressed the participants, while Election Tribunal Judge Liaqat Ali Khan attended the session.

Mughal said the government elected for the next five years would reflect the credibility and professionalism of polling officials, describing government employees as the backbone of the state’s administrative system.

He urged presiding officers to remain completely neutral and loyal only to the state, without any affiliation to political parties or candidates, adding that election duty should be carried out with the same sense of responsibility as a sacred trust.