Azad Kashmir goes to polls under revised schedule following civil unrest

Voting has commenced in the Mirpur division of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) for the first phase of the region’s general elections, following weeks of political instability and civil unrest.

The election commission announced a three-phase schedule across 45 assembly constituencies after campaign activities were severely disrupted by protests led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil rights movement recently banned under anti-terrorism laws.

The unrest primarily stems from JAAC’s demand to abolish 12 legislative seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan, which the group contends allow mainstream Pakistani political parties to improperly influence local government formation.

While the AJK Supreme Court ruled that these reserved seats hold constitutional protection and cannot be removed by executive decree, security remains high across polling areas, with officials warning of strict legal measures against any attempts to disrupt the voting process.

Following the Mirpur phase, voting for the Muzaffarabad division and refugee constituencies will take place on August 2, concluding with the Poonch division on August 10.