AJK Election Commission Issues New Schedule for Third Phase Polls

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission has revised the schedule for the third phase of elections, postponing polling in Poonch and Sudhanoti districts.

Earlier, voting for the third phase was planned on August 10 for 11 seats across four districts of the Poonch Division. Under the revised schedule, polling will now be held only in Bagh and Haveli districts.

The first and second phases of the AJK elections were held on July 27 and August 2 in the Mirpur and Muzaffarabad divisions.

According to unofficial and unconfirmed results, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has performed strongly and is expected to form the next AJK government. Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said the party has secured a simple majority.

In the second phase, elections were held in 21 constituencies, including nine seats in Muzaffarabad Division and 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan.

Unofficial results show that the PML-N won 15 seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured six seats.

In the first phase, unofficial results showed the PML-N winning nine constituencies, while the PPP won four seats.

The PPP has alleged that both phases of the elections were affected by rigging and violence.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari claimed the federal government’s “countdown has begun” after his party won fewer seats. In a video message on August 3, he described the elections as “neither free nor fair” and called them “bullet elections”, “murderous elections” and “bloody elections”.

The PML-N rejected the allegations. Rana Sanaullah challenged the PPP to present evidence before the Election Commission and said claims of rigging should be supported with proof rather than political statements.