Low turnout, deadly clashes overshadow first phase of AJK elections

The first phase of legislative elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir was overshadowed by low voter turnout, deadly clashes and allegations of electoral irregularities. Unofficial results showed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's ruling PML-N winning nine of 13 contested seats in Mirpur division on Monday, while the PPP secured four.

Why was turnout low in the first phase of the AJK elections?

Turnout in Mirpur division fell sharply from the last election, driven largely by a boycott from a banned civil rights coalition and Imran Khan's PTI. Based on combined vote totals for the top two candidates in each constituency, at least 544,062 of the division's 1.4 million registered voters cast ballots, a minimum turnout of 38.8%, well below the 61% recorded in the same constituencies in 2021.

The estimate excludes votes for lower-placed candidates, and the Election Commission has yet to publish official figures. Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam said turnout ranged between 40% and 60% in some constituencies and called it encouraging, while Election Commission Secretary Raja Shakeel had predicted turnout in Mirpur district would exceed 50% before counting began.

Why did the JAAC and PTI boycott the AJK elections?

The subdued participation followed a boycott by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a civil rights coalition banned in June under anti-terrorism laws, and by PTI, which said it was staying out in solidarity with the coalition. The JAAC has led weeks of protests demanding the abolition of 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees from Indian-administered Kashmir, arguing the seats let mainstream Pakistani parties influence the legislature's composition. Around 30 people have died in clashes linked to the protest movement since early June.

What violence was reported during the AJK election voting?

Voting itself was marred by violence. In the LA-9 Kotli-II constituency, a clash between PPP and PML-N supporters left one PPP worker, Mukhtar Younas, dead and three others injured. Sardar Abdul Shakoor, head of the PPP's election cell in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, alleged the violence erupted after supporters of PML-N candidate Umair Naeem displayed weapons and intimidated voters, though Nukta could not independently verify the claims.

In LA-6 Bhimber-II, supporters of the PML-N and the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) clashed at the Baba Shadi Shaheed polling station, where a ballot box containing 232 votes was seized and set on fire, election officials said. The district returning officer said polling was otherwise conducted normally, and a decision on whether to order fresh voting at the affected station would come later.

What action has the Election Commission taken over the reported violations?

Authorities arrested IPP candidate Ali Shan Soni in Bhimber after officials alleged he and his associates removed ballot boxes from four polling stations. Separately, an assistant commissioner, a deputy superintendent of police and a station house officer were suspended over another ballot box removal incident in the same constituency.

The Election Commission also ordered the arrest of two presiding officers in Kotli after they allegedly abandoned their assigned polling stations for private residences during voting. Both were suspended and face prosecution under election laws, with the commission warning that further violations would be dealt with strictly. More than 18,560 security personnel, including about 2,100 army troops, were deployed to guard 2,454 polling stations across Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber.

How have PML-N and PPP reacted to the AJK election results?

According to unofficial results, PML-N won nine seats while the PPP, which has governed the territory since November 2025, secured four, intensifying tensions between the two coalition partners at the federal level. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the PPP should have accepted defeat gracefully rather than alleging electoral manipulation, criticizing its campaign and development record after 17 years in power in Sindh.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari rejected the outcome, alleging the election had been robbed and saying it was up to the state to decide whether to prioritize national interest over the ruling PML-N's interests.

When are the remaining phases of the AJK elections?

Pakistan-administered Kashmir has its own legislature, prime minister and president, though Islamabad retains authority over defense, foreign affairs and currency. The territory is part of the wider Kashmir region, divided between India and Pakistan since 1947 and claimed in full by both countries.

Polling in Muzaffarabad division and 12 refugee constituencies is scheduled for Aug. 2, followed by voting in Poonch division on Aug. 10. The remaining phases will determine whether the PML-N can translate its early lead into a governing majority in the 53-seat assembly.