MUZAFFARABAD, Polling for the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly Elections 2026 began on Sunday across 21 constituencies, including nine seats in Muzaffarabad Division and 12 refugee constituencies located across Pakistan.
Voting started at 8:00 a.m. and will continue uninterrupted until 5:00 p.m.
According to election authorities, the three districts of Muzaffarabad, Neelum, and Jhelum Valley have a combined 890,621 registered voters eligible to cast their ballots for the nine Assembly seats.
A total of 1,483 polling stations have been established throughout Muzaffarabad Division to facilitate the voting process.
The nine constituencies are being contested by 208 candidates, representing major political parties, including:
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- Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)
- Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)
- Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP)
- Other political parties
- Independent candidates
Polling is also being held for 12 reserved refugee constituencies, where Kashmiri refugees residing in various cities across Pakistan are exercising their constitutional right to vote.
The seats comprise:
- Six Jammu refugee constituencies (LA-34 to LA-39)
- Six Valley refugee constituencies (LA-40 to LA-45)
Speaking to the media, Chief Election Commissioner Justice (Retd.) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal said elections in Azad Kashmir are conducted in phases primarily due to security considerations.
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He noted that although there had been uncertainty in Muzaffarabad a day earlier, the overall law and order situation has improved significantly, allowing polling to proceed peacefully.
Authorities have deployed security personnel at polling stations across the region to ensure a transparent, peaceful, and orderly voting process.
