MUZAFFARABAD: The Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has announced a revised schedule for the upcoming legislative elections, deciding to conduct the polls in three phases under the security oversight of the Pakistan Army.
The announcement was made by Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal during a press conference in Muzaffarabad on Tuesday.
According to the revised election plan, polling in Mirpur Division will be held in the first phase on July 27.
The second phase of voting will take place in Muzaffarabad Division on August 2, while polling in Poonch Division is scheduled for the third phase on August 10.
The Chief Election Commissioner also announced that elections for the 12 reserved seats allocated to Kashmiri refugees will be conducted on August 2, alongside polling in Muzaffarabad Division.
Explaining the decision to alter the election schedule, Ghulam Mustafa Mughal said the phased approach was adopted based on the availability of Pakistan Army personnel required for election security.
“Elections in Azad Kashmir will be held in phases under the supervision of the Pakistan Army,” he said, adding that the revised timetable would enable authorities to ensure adequate security arrangements at all polling stations.
The Election Commission emphasized that the phased schedule is intended to facilitate the smooth, transparent, and peaceful conduct of the electoral process while ensuring sufficient deployment of security personnel.
Authorities said security plans have been finalized in coordination with relevant institutions to maintain law and order and provide a safe environment for voters, polling staff, and election officials.
According to official election statistics, 3,365,839 registered voters are eligible to cast their ballots in the upcoming elections across Azad Kashmir.
Of the total electorate, 1,753,933 are male voters, while 1,611,906 are female voters.
The Election Commission has urged political parties, candidates, and voters to cooperate with election officials and adhere to the electoral code of conduct to ensure free, fair, and peaceful elections.
Election authorities also appealed to citizens to verify their polling information in advance and participate responsibly in the democratic process.
The revised schedule marks a significant procedural change from the earlier plan, under which polling across the region was expected to take place on a single day. Officials said the new phased arrangement is aimed at strengthening security and ensuring efficient management of election operations across all divisions of Azad Kashmir.
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