Azad Kashmir Elections 2026: Three-Phase Polling Begins July 27 Amid Security Concerns and Political Tensions

 

           The Pakistan Times | Islamabad Times

AJK Election Commission Announces Revised Three-Phase Schedule

The Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has unveiled a revised schedule for the 2026 legislative assembly elections, announcing that polling will now be conducted in three phases across the region. The decision comes amid heightened security concerns and weeks of political unrest in the Pakistan-administered territory.

Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal announced the updated election programme during a press conference in Muzaffarabad, rejecting calls from some political parties to postpone the polls. Under the revised timetable, voting will be staggered across the region's three divisions to ensure effective security arrangements and smooth election management.

The decision was made after consultations with major political parties and a review of the security situation, particularly in Poonch Division, where uncertainty over the conduct of polling had persisted for several weeks.

Polling Schedule: Key Dates and Divisions

The Azad Kashmir elections 2026 will follow a phased schedule across three divisions.

Phase 1 – July 27, 2026: Polling will be held in Mirpur Division, covering 13 constituencies across the districts of Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber.

Phase 2 – August 2, 2026: Voting will take place in Muzaffarabad Division, covering 9 constituencies in Muzaffarabad, Jhelum Valley and Neelum districts. Polling for all 12 reserved refugee seats will also be held on this date.

Phase 3 – August 10, 2026: The final phase will be conducted in Poonch Division, comprising 11 constituencies in the districts of Poonch, Bagh, Sudhnoti and Haveli.

Chief Election Commissioner Mughal explained that the phased schedule would allow security forces to be deployed more effectively, as personnel are currently engaged in duties elsewhere in the country. He also announced that results for each phase will be announced on the same day polling is held.

Government Employees Cast Advance Votes

The first phase of the election process was successfully completed on July 20, when 24,040 government employees cast their votes across eight districts in the region. According to election officials, polling was held from 8am to 5pm in a peaceful and transparent environment.

Official figures showed that 4,278 votes were cast across four constituencies in Rawalakot Division, 12,041 votes in Mirpur Division, and 7,721 votes in Muzaffarabad Division. Sealed ballot boxes were handed over to returning officers, with counting scheduled for polling day.

Election experts noted the successful completion of the first phase as a positive step toward holding organized and transparent general elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. More than 80 percent of government employees participated in the advance voting, reflecting trust in the electoral process.

Political Campaign Heats Up: PML-N vs PPP

The Azad Kashmir elections 2026 are shaping up to be a direct contest between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), with political heavyweights personally leading their parties' campaigns.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has been actively campaigning in Azad Kashmir, following his party's success in Gilgit-Baltistan elections where the PPP formed the government. In response, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif has decided to take charge of his party's Kashmir campaign, addressing multiple rallies in the region.

Observers see this election as a 'Nawaz vs Bilawal' contest, with the PML-N keen to avoid a repeat of Gilgit-Baltistan, where the PPP staged a strong showing. The PML-N faces particular challenges in Kashmir due to widespread resentment over its purported role in the crackdown on protests led by the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).

Over 1,265 candidates have submitted nomination papers for the 45 constituencies, including 12 reserved refugee seats. Some 1,047 candidates are contesting the 33 territorial seats, while 218 candidates are vying for the refugee constituencies. The IPP has announced candidates for 35 seats, while the PPP has fielded candidates for nearly all constituencies.

Security Concerns and Calls for Postponement

The Azad Kashmir elections 2026 take place against a backdrop of weeks of unrest, protests and heightened security. The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil rights movement banned under anti-terrorism laws last month, has led protests that resulted in around 30 deaths and triggered clashes with law enforcement personnel.

The protests, sparked in part by a dispute over refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly, have disrupted election campaigning and forced business closures. Internet services, including mobile data and broadband connectivity, remain suspended as authorities maintain heightened security ahead of the legislative elections.

Former AJK president and prime minister Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan has urged the Election Commission to postpone the elections, citing the deteriorating security environment. In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, he expressed concern that prolonged unrest, incidents of violence, and continuing security threats could undermine the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections.

However, the Election Commission rejected demands for postponement, emphasizing that the phased schedule would enable the administration and law enforcement agencies to implement separate security plans for each stage of polling. The Pakistan Army and other state institutions will be deployed to provide security during the polling process.

Chief Election Commissioner Mughal dismissed perceptions that the security situation was generally unsafe for polling, stating that the military is called in only when the situation is completely beyond the control of civil authorities. International observers and foreign journalists will be permitted to monitor and report on the electoral process.

Conclusion

The Azad Kashmir elections 2026 represent a critical moment for the region's democratic process. With polling scheduled in three phases from July 27 to August 10, the Election Commission is working to ensure the elections are conducted in a free, fair, transparent and peaceful manner despite significant security challenges.

The rejection of calls for postponement and the commitment to holding the elections as scheduled reflect the Commission's determination to uphold the electoral process. The strong participation of government employees in advance voting and the active political campaigns by major parties indicate that democracy remains resilient in Azad Kashmir.

As the region prepares for polling, all eyes will be on the Election Commission's ability to manage security and ensure a peaceful electoral process, as well as the political parties' commitment to accepting the results and maintaining stability.

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