MUZAFFARABAD — The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission announced a significant revision to the upcoming general elections on Tuesday, scrapping the original single-day polling date of July 27 in favour of a three-phase voting schedule that will run until mid-August.
Addressing a press conference in Muzaffarabad, AJK Election Commissioner retired Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal confirmed that elections for all Legislative Assembly constituencies will now be held in three separate phases, with the final round concluding on August 10.
Revised Electoral Schedule
The Election Commission attributed the change to security constraints, noting the limited availability of military and paramilitary personnel due to ongoing security operations in the provinces.
| Phase | Polling Date | Geographic / Administrative Coverage | Total Seats |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase I | July 27 | Mirpur Division (Districts Mirpur, Bhimber, Kotli) | 13 Seats |
| Phase II | August 2 | Muzaffarabad Division + All Jammu & Kashmir Refugee Seats | 21 Seats |
| Phase III | August 10 | Poonch Division (Districts Poonch, Sudhnoti, Bagh, Haveli) | 11 Seats |
Security Logistics and Administrative Impact
By spreading the polling over regional phases, the authorities can deploy law enforcement and security forces progressively across different divisions.
The decision to combine the 12 refugee constituencies — located in various urban centres across Pakistan — with Muzaffarabad Division in the second phase is intended to facilitate smoother security arrangements across provincial boundaries.
Election officials maintained that despite the extended timeline, all logistical arrangements, including ballot printing and distribution as well as polling staff deployment, remain on schedule to wrap up the entire electoral process by mid-August.
