Muzaffarabad, July 25, 2026: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission on Saturday warned political parties and government officials against violating the election code of conduct after electric buses announced by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) as a “gift” reached Muzaffarabad during the ongoing election campaign.
The warning came a day after former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced several development initiatives, including the provision of 10 electric buses, while addressing election rallies in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz later confirmed the arrival of the buses in the AJK capital by sharing a video on social media showing the green buses carrying posters bearing her photograph.
The announcement drew strong criticism from the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), which described the move as “political bribery” and formally approached the AJK Election Commission, alleging a violation of the election code of conduct.
Responding to the controversy, an Election Commission spokesperson said federal and provincial ministers were free to participate in election campaigns but could not use official protocol, government resources or state machinery for electoral purposes.
The spokesperson warned that announcing new development schemes, financial packages, public facilities or welfare projects after the election schedule had been issued would constitute a violation of the code of conduct.
The commission further stated that any vehicles, equipment, relief goods or other facilities provided by the federal or provincial governments during the election period could be confiscated, with legal action taken against those responsible.
The Election Commission urged all political parties, candidates and ministers to strictly adhere to the code of conduct to ensure free, fair and transparent elections while maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
Separately, AJK Secretary Information Muhammad Rashid Hanif and Director Information Tariq Jamil Durrani called on journalists and media organisations to ensure responsible, impartial and professional election coverage.
In a joint statement, they urged the media to publish only verified and balanced information, avoid rumours and inflammatory content, and comply with the Election Commission’s code of conduct as well as established journalistic ethics. They also advised social media users to refrain from sharing unverified or misleading content that could undermine the electoral process or disturb public order.
Meanwhile, PPP Secretary General Nayyer Hussain Bukhari met AJK Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal to lodge a formal protest over what the party described as pre-election development announcements.
Bukhari urged the commission to take notice of the Punjab government’s decision to provide 10 electric buses displaying Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s photographs, alleging that the ruling PML-N was attempting to influence voters by using public funds.
He argued that announcing such initiatives after the election schedule had been issued amounted to a clear violation of election laws and questioned whether the buses had been financed through public resources.
The PPP leader also requested the issuance of a no-objection certificate (NOC) for the party to operate a voter awareness campaign linked to its election manifesto and urged the commission to decide the matter at the earliest.
Issues relating to the 2026 AJK general elections, implementation of the code of conduct and permissions required by political parties also came under discussion during the meeting.
In a separate statement, PPP Central Spokesperson Shazia Marri said party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was committed to securing a brighter and more empowered future for the people of Kashmir. She said the PPP’s campaign focused on the rights to self-governance, property and employment, and urged the PML-N to present its programme for Kashmir instead of engaging in political accusations.
“The people of Kashmir do not want allegations; they want solutions to their problems,” she said.
