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More than 2.4 million voters exercised their franchise in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Tuesday to elect 41 legislators for the formation of a new government.The polling began at 0800 hrs. Thousands of troops have been deployed at all the constituencies to ensure 'free and fair polls,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login,' the official Associated Press of Pakistan reported.PoK's Election Commission has made arrangements to hold 'smooth' elections, which are being held nine months after the devastating October 8 earthquake. Identity cards have been made essential for voters for exercising their franchise. 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. Of these,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, five seats are reserved for women and one each for Ulema Mashikh, technocrats and 'overseas Kashmiris.'A total of 3,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login,746 polling stations have been set up to enable the people to elect their legislators for a five-year term. Out of total 369 candidates,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, some 197 belonged to 17 political parties and the rest 172 were independents.Image: A woman casts her ballot at a polling station in the city of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan occupied Kashmir on July 11, 2006.Photograph: Sajjad Qayyum/AFP/Getty Images
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir goes to polls
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir goes to pollsJuly      11,You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login, 2006