Muzaffarabad, August 10, 2026: Polling is underway in four constituencies of Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s (AJK) Bagh and Haveli districts as the third phase of the region’s elections takes place amid heightened security and fresh allegations of electoral malpractice by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).
Polling began at 8am and is scheduled to continue until 5pm. The AJK Election Commission has classified most of the 803 polling stations in the four constituencies as sensitive or highly sensitive amid concerns over possible clashes.
Election Commission Secretary Raja Mohammad Shakeel said an additional 10,300 security personnel had been deployed alongside the regular police forces of Bagh and Haveli districts to maintain law and order and ensure a peaceful environment for voters.
The third phase was originally scheduled to cover all 11 constituencies of Poonch Division, but the Election Commission last week decided to hold polling only in Bagh and Haveli because of the prevailing law and order situation. Polling for the remaining seven constituencies could be held around August 20 or 21, according to the AJK election commissioner.
The first two phases were held in Mirpur and Muzaffarabad divisions on July 27 and August 2, respectively, with the PML-N emerging as the largest party after securing 24 seats. The PPP has so far won 10 seats.
The latest polling has been overshadowed by allegations of rigging and electoral irregularities, with the PPP accusing PML-N supporters of manipulating the voting process and preventing its polling agents from performing their duties.
In a series of posts on X, the PPP said it had submitted multiple complaints to the Election Commission regarding alleged irregularities in constituencies LA-15, LA-16 and LA-17.
The party alleged that roads leading to Banni Marasira in LA-15 had been blocked while PML-N supporters were illegally stamping ballot papers at 12 polling stations. It also reported delays at several polling stations and claimed that its polling agents had been forcibly removed from certain stations.
The PPP further alleged that Jamaat-i-Islami workers had gathered to “capture” 26 polling stations in LA-15 after police personnel allegedly withdrew from the area. The party called on the Election Commission to investigate the alleged withdrawal of security and restore protection at the affected stations.
The party also shared a video that it said showed PML-N workers attacking a polling station at the Boys Middle School in Central Bagh, although the allegation could not immediately be independently verified.
In LA-16, the PPP alleged that its polling agents were prevented from entering polling stations 119 and 120 while PML-N supporters were stamping ballot papers inside. It also alleged delays at other stations and accused armed individuals associated with the PML-N of opening fire at polling station 179 in Kot Chinalla.
Similar allegations were reported from LA-17, where the PPP claimed that its agents had been forced out of a polling station in Mullah Basti, Kahuta City.
PPP Vice President Sherry Rehman said reports of polling agents being denied access raised “serious questions” about the transparency of the electoral process. She called on the Election Commission to seek explanations from the relevant presiding officers and ensure alternative arrangements where shortages of polling staff or election material had disrupted voting.
PPP Secretary General Nayyar Bokhari also accused the PML-N of continuing alleged electoral malpractice and said his party had been regularly communicating complaints to the Election Commission.
The Election Commission, however, has rejected some allegations. Regarding claims circulating on social media about presiding officers allegedly manipulating results in favour of PPP candidate and AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, Shakeel dismissed the allegations while confirming that complaints had been received against two officials and that they had subsequently been relieved of their election duties.
Monday’s polling involves 238,664 male and 221,707 female registered voters, who are eligible to cast ballots through 1,254 polling booths at 803 polling stations. A total of 82 candidates are contesting the four constituencies.
The most closely watched contests include LA-17 Haveli, where AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore of the PPP is facing PML-N candidate Mohsin Aziz and independent candidate Khawaja Tariq Saeed.
Rathore and Saeed were previously political allies and had reportedly agreed to contest the seat alternately. Their political relationship deteriorated after Rathore became prime minister and sought Saeed’s withdrawal from the contest.
PML-N candidate Aziz is also drawing support from the sizeable Gujjar community and has intensified his campaign with major public rallies. Saeed, meanwhile, is believed to enjoy support among sections of the Kashmiri community and several smaller clans.
Rathore has expressed confidence in retaining the constituency, pointing to the performance of his government during his tenure.
In LA-15 Wasti Bagh, former AJK prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas is contesting against PML-N candidate and former minister Mushtaq Ahmed Minhas, PPP nominee and sitting minister Sardar Ziaul Qamar, and Jamaat-i-Islami candidate retired Brigadier Dr Mohammad Khan.
Ilyas had initially announced a boycott of the third phase after securing just over 3,300 votes from Upper Neelum in the second phase, but later reversed his decision and resumed campaigning. He has argued that victory would give the constituency a chance to secure either the AJK presidency or prime ministership.
Minhas enters the contest with the backing of the PML-N, which is currently the largest party in the AJK Assembly following the first two phases. His campaign has focused on the argument that voters should elect a representative from the party expected to form the government.
LA-16 Sharqi Bagh features a direct contest between former ministers Sardar Mir Akbar of the PML-N and Sardar Qamar Zaman of the PPP.
Meanwhile, LA-14 Dhirkot has attracted considerable attention because of the electoral challenge facing Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, head of the once-dominant Muslim Conference.
Attique, who has represented the constituency since 2006 and previously served as AJK prime minister, is facing a strong challenge from Sajid Iqbal Abbasi of the Awam Dast-o-Bazu Party. Abbasi, a contractor and philanthropist, is reported to have built a significant personal following through public welfare projects in the constituency.
The contest has added significance because Abbasi belongs to the same tribe as Attique. PML-N candidate Raja Faisal Azad and PPP nominee Raja Mubashar Ejaz are also in the race, although the principal contest is expected to be between Attique and Abbasi.
The AJK elections are being held against the backdrop of political tensions and protests in the region. The proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has been demanding, among other issues, the abolition of 12 seats in the AJK legislature reserved for refugees from Indian-held Kashmir.
With the PML-N already holding a commanding position after the first two phases, the outcome of the Bagh and Haveli contests could have a significant bearing on the balance of power and the formation of the next AJK government.
The remaining seven constituencies of Poonch Division are expected to be contested later this month, subject to the prevailing security situation.
