AJK election campaign enters final stretch as top leaders launch last push

• Nawaz, Maryam to address Muzaffarabad rally; Bilawal set for major public meeting in Nakyal

• PML-N, PPP intensify campaigns to sway undecided voters ahead of July 27 polls

• Advance polling for government employees concludes peacefully with over 80% turnout

• Election Commission vows free, fair and transparent polls, rules out any delay

• Security tightened across AJK as authorities complete logistical and polling arrangements

 MUZAFFARABAD/ISLAMABAD: Electioneering for the July 27 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections entered its decisive phase on Monday as the country's top political leadership intensified campaigning across the territory, with Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari set to address major public rallies on Tuesday in a final push to mobilise voters ahead of polling day.

PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz will jointly address a public meeting at Khurshid Hassan Khurshid Stadium in Muzaffarabad, while PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will lead his party's election rally in Nakyal as political parties make an aggressive bid to consolidate support in the closing days of the campaign.

The PML-N gathering is expected to attract thousands of supporters from Muzaffarabad and adjoining constituencies, making it one of the party's largest election rallies in Azad Kashmir ahead of the July 27 polls.

AJK PML-N President Shah Ghulam Qadir said Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz would present the party's vision for Azad Kashmir, outline its development agenda and seek public support for PML-N candidates contesting the elections.

آزاد جموں و کشمیر میں پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کا دورِ حکومت آئینی خودمختاری، انتظامی اختیارات کی منتقلی، اور بے مثال ترقی کا ضامن رہا ہے۔ تیرویں آئینی ترمیم، آمدنی میں تین گنا اضافہ، 25 سال بعد بلدیاتی انتخابات، اور ہزاروں ترقیاتی و سڑکوں کے منصوبے اسی کا ثبوت ہیں۔ نوجوانوں کو میرٹ… pic.twitter.com/xevKmIVshi

— PMLN (@pmln_org) July 20, 2026

"The people of Azad Kashmir have always reposed confidence in Nawaz Sharif's leadership. The Muzaffarabad rally will be a historic gathering and will send a strong message in favour of the PML-N ahead of the July 27 elections," Qadir said.

He said party workers had completed all arrangements for the public meeting and expressed confidence that a massive number of supporters would participate in the rally.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened across Muzaffarabad ahead of the high-profile visit, with law enforcement agencies finalising comprehensive security arrangements to ensure the peaceful conduct of the event.

 

Earlier on Monday, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan and SAFRON Amir Muqam, along with Prime Minister's Adviser on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah and PML-N candidate Barrister Iftikhar Gilani, visited Muzaffarabad's main markets, where they interacted with traders and voters as part of the party's election campaign.

On the other hand, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is scheduled to address a public gathering in Nakyal as part of his ongoing campaign across Azad Kashmir. During the rally, Bilawal is expected to present the PPP's election manifesto, highlight the party's development agenda and reiterate its position on the Kashmir issue while seeking public support for PPP candidates.

پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کی بنیاد ہی مسئلۂ کشمیر پر رکھی گئی تھی۔ قائدِ عوام شہید ذوالفقار علی بھٹو سے لے کر آج تک کشمیر کاز کا دفاع ہماری جدوجہد کا بنیادی حصہ رہا ہے، اور ہمارا مؤقف ہمیشہ یہ رہا ہے کہ کشمیر کاز کو کسی بھی قسم کا نقصان پہنچائے بغیر کشمیری عوام کو مزید آئینی، جمہوری… pic.twitter.com/enuhBGB9sd

— PPP Digital Media (@mediapppdigital) July 20, 2026

With less than a week remaining before polling, both the PML-N and PPP have significantly intensified their campaigns, with senior national leaders making high-profile appearances in a concerted effort to energise party workers, consolidate vote banks and influence undecided voters ahead of the contest for the 45-member AJK Legislative Assembly.

 

Advance polling for government employees concludes peacefully

Meanwhile, advance polling for government employees assigned election duties concluded peacefully across eight districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, recording an overwhelming voter turnout as election authorities declared themselves fully prepared to conduct free, fair and transparent elections on July 27.

The special polling exercise, regarded by election officials as the Election Commission's first major operational test ahead of polling day, was held in all districts except Rawalakot and Sudhnoti, where polling was postponed because of security concerns.

Despite the exceptions, officials described the exercise as orderly, peaceful and incident-free, with voter turnout exceeding 80 per cent in almost every district where polling took place.

The successful completion of advance polling comes at a crucial stage of the election campaign, with authorities simultaneously finalising logistical, administrative and security arrangements for one of the most closely watched electoral contests in the region.

AJK Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal said the successful conduct of advance polling reflected the Election Commission's preparedness to hold peaceful, transparent and credible elections across all constituencies on July 27.

"There is no question of delaying the elections. The polls will be held on schedule under all circumstances, and no attempt to disrupt the democratic process will be allowed to succeed," Mughal said after reviewing polling arrangements.

He said extensive security measures had been put in place to safeguard polling personnel, election material and voters, adding that government employees exercised their right to vote in a peaceful environment without any major untoward incident.

"The turnout of more than 80 per cent among government employees is extremely encouraging. It reflects confidence in the electoral system and demonstrates the commitment of public servants to strengthening democratic institutions," he said.

Mughal also expressed satisfaction over the close coordination between the Election Commission, district administrations and law enforcement agencies, saying similar arrangements would be replicated on polling day to ensure peaceful elections across the territory.

Senior Election Commission Member Khawaja Ahsan said the successful advance polling had further reinforced confidence in the electoral process and demonstrated that preparations for the July 27 elections had entered their final stage.

"The Election Commission is fully prepared to conduct free, fair and transparent elections. Election material has already been dispatched to the returning officers, while close coordination with district administrations and security agencies continues to ensure peaceful polling," he said.

Election Commission Member Syed Nazir Ul Hasan Gillani said polling remained orderly throughout the day, with polling staff efficiently performing their responsibilities while voters expressed satisfaction over the arrangements.

"We remained in constant contact with returning officers across AJK, and polling proceeded peacefully wherever voting was held. No complaints regarding the polling process have been received from any district," he said.

Gillani said ballot boxes used during advance polling had been sealed in accordance with the prescribed legal procedure and handed over to the respective returning officers under strict security arrangements. The ballots cast by government employees will remain sealed until July 27 and will be counted together with votes cast on polling day.

He added that ballot papers had already reached all returning officers, while comprehensive security plans for polling stations had been finalised in consultation with law enforcement agencies.

Election officials said that, apart from Muzaffarabad, every district where advance polling was conducted recorded voter participation of more than 80 per cent, despite voters themselves being engaged in election duties—an encouraging indicator, officials said, for overall voter turnout in the general elections.

With only a week remaining before voters elect members to the 45-seat Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, the successful completion of advance polling has provided the Election Commission with a crucial operational rehearsal while reinforcing official confidence that the territory remains on course for peaceful, orderly and credible elections on July 27.