Muzaffarabad residents boycott election amid strike

Residents of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan‑administered Kashmir, abstained from voting in the scheduled local elections on Thursday, joining a broader strike that has halted public activities across the region. Election officials reported that polling stations opened as planned, but turnout remained markedly low as citizens heeded calls from opposition groups to boycott the ballot in protest against perceived irregularities and demands for greater political autonomy.

The strike, organized by several regional parties and civil‑society organizations, has disrupted normal civic life and raised concerns about the legitimacy of the electoral outcome. Authorities have urged voters to participate, emphasizing the importance of the elections for local governance, while monitoring the situation for any escalation of unrest. The low participation rate is expected to influence the composition of the newly elected council and may prompt further dialogue between the government and dissenting factions.