Mirpur, July 27, 2026: Polling for the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections began on Monday across 13 constituencies in Mirpur division, with authorities deploying a massive three-tier security arrangement to ensure peaceful voting amid allegations of pre-poll rigging and isolated clashes between political workers.
Voting commenced at 8:00am and will continue until 5:00pm in the districts of Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber, where a public holiday has been declared to facilitate voters.
According to the Election Commission of AJK, a total of 288 candidates are contesting the first phase of the elections. Polling is being held at 2,316 polling stations, including 1,241 declared highly sensitive and 724 classified as sensitive.
Election monitoring has been organised through 13 zones and 205 sectors, while more than 18,500 personnel from the police and other law enforcement agencies have been deployed under a comprehensive three-tier security plan. The first layer of security is being provided by the police, the second by Pakistan Rangers (Punjab and Sindh) and the Federal Constabulary, while the Pakistan Army has been assigned the third security layer. Around 2,100 army personnel have also been deployed, with Quick Response Force (QRF) teams on standby to respond to emergencies.
Despite the extensive security arrangements, minor clashes were reported between workers of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in parts of Kotli district. Polling at a few stations was temporarily suspended before resuming.
Mirpur Commissioner Raja Tahir Mumtaz Khan, after visiting several polling stations, said the electoral process was continuing smoothly with security measures fully in place.
AJK Inspector General of Police (IGP) retired Captain Liaqat Ali Malik described the polling process as largely peaceful, saying the few reported incidents were minor political scuffles that occasionally occur during closely contested elections. He said police were performing their duties in a neutral, transparent and impartial manner and warned that anyone attempting to disrupt the electoral process would face legal action, regardless of political affiliation.
AJK Chief Justice Raja Saeed Akram Khan also cast his vote at a polling station in Samahni, Bhimber.
Political tensions remained high as both major contenders accused each other of attempting to influence the electoral process.
Ahead of polling, Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah alleged pre-poll rigging in Kotli’s LA-10 constituency, claiming that PPP AJK President Chaudhry Yasin was involved in manipulating the election through presiding officers. He demanded an investigation and said the election results would not be acceptable to his party until the inquiry was completed.
Separately, the AJK government confirmed that two presiding officers in Kotli had been arrested after allegedly taking polling material to a private residence instead of their designated polling stations. Election authorities confiscated the polling material, replaced the officials and initiated legal proceedings.
Responding to the allegations, PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan accused the federal government and the PML-N of using state resources to influence the elections. He criticised the distribution of electric buses and development announcements in AJK ahead of polling, insisting that the people deserved free, fair and transparent elections.
The PPP also urged the Election Commission to investigate what it described as attempts by PML-N supporters to interfere with polling in Kotli constituencies, alleging that armed individuals had entered polling stations and attempted to influence voters. The party also complained about slow mobile phone services affecting communication in some areas.
The AJK election campaign has largely evolved into a political contest between PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, whose exchanges during recent rallies intensified the rivalry between the two coalition partners.
Addressing an election rally in Mirpur, Nawaz Sharif remarked that Kashmir should not be confused with Kashmore, nor Mirpur with Mirpurkhas, referring to districts in Sindh governed by the PPP.
Bilawal responded by saying that whether it was Kashmir or Kashmore, Mirpur or Mirpurkhas, people everywhere were unwilling to compromise on their rights. He also criticised the announcement of development projects and electric buses before the elections, saying public-funded projects were the people’s right rather than gifts from politicians.
The AJK elections are being conducted in three phases due to security considerations. Following Monday’s polling in Mirpur division, the second phase will be held on August 2 in Muzaffarabad division and refugee constituencies, while the third and final phase is scheduled for August 10 in Poonch division.
Ahead of polling, AJK Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal urged more than 1.4 million registered voters to exercise their democratic right and warned that strict legal action would be taken against anyone attempting to disrupt the electoral process.
Authorities also dismissed concerns over a protest call issued by the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), saying no significant mobilisation had taken place and polling was continuing without major disruption.
