The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission on Friday revised the schedule for the third phase of the 2026 general elections, postponing polling in Poonch and Sudhanoti districts due to the prevailing law and order situation.
Under the original schedule, voting was to take place on Aug 10 for 11 seats across the four districts of the Poonch Division. However, the commission said polling would now be held only in Bagh and Haveli districts, while elections in all constituencies of Poonch and Sudhanoti had been deferred.
In a statement, the Election Commission said the decision was taken in view of the security situation, adding that a new polling date for the postponed constituencies would be announced after a review of the prevailing conditions.
The first two phases of the elections were held on July 27 and Aug 2 in the Mirpur and Muzaffarabad divisions, respectively.
According to unofficial and unconfirmed results, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has emerged as the largest party. Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said the party had secured a simple majority and was in a position to form the next government in Azad Kashmir.
The second phase of polling covered 21 constituencies, including nine seats in the Muzaffarabad Division and 12 reserved seats for Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan. Unofficial results showed the PML-N winning 15 seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured six.
In the first phase, the PML-N won nine constituencies, while the PPP secured four seats, according to provisional and unofficial results.
Both phases of the election were marred by allegations of rigging and violence from the PPP. Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said the polls were neither free nor fair and alleged widespread irregularities.
The PML-N rejected the allegations, with Rana Sanaullah urging the PPP to submit evidence to the Election Commission, saying claims of electoral fraud should be backed by proof rather than political assertions.
