MUZAFFARABAD: Chief Election Commissioner of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, on Tuesday announced that upcoming legislative elections in the region will be conducted in three phases across its divisions.
Speaking at a press conference, the CEC said polling in the Mirpur division will be held on July 27 followed by the Muzaffarabad division on August 2 while the final phase in the Poonch division is scheduled for August 10.
He emphasized that the phased schedule was designed to ensure smooth conduct of the electoral exercise and efficient deployment of administrative and security resources.
The announcement came just a day after Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari when asked in an interview about the prospects of free and fair elections in AJK, remarked that they would be “exactly the type held in Pakistan.”
آزاد کشمیر میں الیکشن شفاف اور آزاد ہوں گے، منصور علی خان کا سوال
اتنے ہی شفاف اور آزاد ہوں گے جتنے پاکستان کے الیکشن ہوتے ہیں، بلاول بھٹو کا جواب
یہ اچھی خبر نہیں ہے، منصور علی خان کا تبصرہ
یہ شاید اچھی خبر نہیں ہوگی لیکن بریکنگ نیوز نہیں ہے، بلاول بھٹو pic.twitter.com/PwUd7gSsq3— Muhammad Zeeshan Awan (@surrakimuhammad) July 20, 2026
His comment, seen as a pointed reflection on Pakistan’s own electoral practices, has sparked debate among political observers about the credibility and transparency of the process in the region.
The announcement comes amid heightened political activity in AJK, with parties stepping up campaigns and alliances ahead of the polls. Analysts note that the phased schedule may also test the capacity of local institutions to manage voter turnout and address complaints in real time.
