AJK polls to be held in three phases from July 27 amid heightened security, unrest

• Election Commission announces revised polling schedule after consultations with political parties

• CEC vows free, fair and peaceful elections, says international observers and media to get full access

• Decision comes amid weeks of protests, clashes and security concerns across the region

• Internet services remain suspended as security tightened ahead of legislative polls

 ISLAMABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission on Tuesday announced that elections to the AJK Legislative Assembly will be held in three phases beginning July 27, unveiling a revised polling schedule after consultations with political parties while reaffirming its commitment to conducting free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections despite weeks of unrest, heightened security and protests across the region.

Addressing a press conference, AJK Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal said polling in Mirpur Division would be held as originally scheduled on July 27, while voting in Muzaffarabad Division would take place on August 2.

Polling for 12 seats reserved for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir residing in Pakistan will also be held on August 2, while elections in Poonch Division are scheduled for August 10.

“The chief election commissioner said that every effort would be made to ensure that the elections are conducted in a free, fair, transparent, and peaceful manner,” the Azad Kashmir Information Ministry said.

The announcement comes amid weeks of unrest in the Pakistan-administered region, where the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil rights movement banned by the authorities last month under anti-terrorism laws, has led protests that triggered clashes with law enforcement personnel and resulted in around 30 deaths.

The protests, sparked in part by a dispute over refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly, have disrupted election campaigning, forced business closures and raised concerns over whether polling could proceed according to schedule.

Mughal said the revised election schedule had been finalised after consultations with all political parties in the region.

“The chief election commissioner also announced that international observers and journalists will be granted full access to cover the elections,” the ministry said.

Former AJK president and prime minister Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan wrote to the chief election commissioner on Monday, urging the Election Commission to postpone the polls in view of the prevailing law and order situation.

The AJK Legislative Assembly elections will be held in 45 constituencies, including 33 territorial seats and 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees residing in Punjab, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The JAAC alleges that the 12 reserved seats are used to influence the formation of government in AJK, an allegation rejected by the AJK government.

Meanwhile, life has largely returned to normal in the capital, Muzaffarabad, after weeks of shutter-down strikes that disrupted commercial activity and transportation across the region.

However, police and other law enforcement personnel remain heavily deployed across the city, with security checkpoints established at key locations and entry points into the region, where vehicles are being stopped and commuters questioned about their movements.

Internet services, including mobile data and broadband connectivity, also remain suspended as authorities continue to maintain heightened security ahead of the legislative elections.