Report: Farhan Tariq
The Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan-administered Kashmir has announced the schedule of general elections in the region, according to which the elections will be held on July 27, 2026. The constitutional term of the current assembly is ending on August 2, and according to the constitution, elections must be held within 60 days of the end of the assembly’s term.
Composition of the Assembly
The Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly has a total of 53 seats:
33 seats are elected through adult suffrage within Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
12 seats are reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan, who are also elected through adult suffrage.
Number of voters
According to the Election Commission:
Total number of voters in 33 constituencies: 33 lakh 65 thousand 839
Male voters: 17 lakh 53 thousand 933
Female voters: 16 lakh 11 thousand 906
6 constituencies of Jammu refugees: 4 lakh 4 thousand 948 voters
6 constituencies of Kashmir valley refugees: 33 thousand 598 voters
Boycott of pro-autonomous Kashmir parties
Parties supporting autonomous Jammu and Kashmir are not participating in the elections this time. When contacted in this regard, Jammu Kashmir People’s National Party President Wajid Ali Advocate rejected the election schedule and said:
“For the last 78 years, elections have been held here under a specific mindset, fair elections have never been held. At present, a people’s movement is going on and the people have rejected the ruling parties three times in the form of referendums.”
He further said:
“The Joint Public Action Committee is of the view that unless reforms are made, fair elections are not possible. These will be partial elections, there will be rigging, certain people will be given power. We reject this schedule.”
According to Wajid Ali Advocate, the situation will become clear by June 9 whether elections are even possible in the current circumstances or not.
Registered Parties
A total of 12 parties are registered with the Election Commission and are eligible to participate in the elections:
Pakistan Muslim League (N) Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Pakistan People’s Party Azad Jammu and Kashmir
All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference
Jamaat-e-Islami Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir People’s Party
All Jammu and Kashmir Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam
Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Party
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation League
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Jammu and Kashmir
Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith Azad Jammu and Kashmir
Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen
Jamiat Ulema-e-Jammu and Kashmir
Major Political Parties
Pakistan’s three major parties — the PPP, the PML-N and the PTI — have always been prominent in regional politics, however, this time the PTI is not registered with the Election Commission.
The PPP has been in power intermittently since 1975, while the PPP, the PML-N and the PTI have been in power alternately since 2011.
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