The Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has officially scheduled the general elections for July 27, 2026. Polling across all constituencies of the AJK Legislative Assembly will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on that day.
Nomination papers for candidates can be submitted to the returning officers starting June 9 until June 19. The scrutiny process for these papers will occur on June 20, with the preliminary list of accepted candidates also released that day. Appeals regarding the acceptance or rejection of nominations may be filed between June 21 and June 24.
Hearings for these appeals are set for June 26 and 27, with final decisions expected between June 28 and 29. Candidates will have the opportunity to withdraw their nominations up to June 30. Subsequently, the official list of contesting candidates will be published on July 1, followed by the allotment of election symbols and the release of the final candidate list with symbols on July 2.
The Election Commission emphasized that the notification is effective immediately, and preparations for conducting the elections will adhere strictly to this timeline.
In a significant development, the AJK Legislative Assembly passed a resolution on Thursday to maintain 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees. The resolution highlighted that refugee representation is both a historical and constitutional fact. It further stated that any reforms needed to simplify electoral complexities and gain political party acceptance should be implemented through the assembly.
The resolution underscored that constitutional reforms fall exclusively under the jurisdiction of elected representatives and should be addressed within the Legislative Assembly. It also called for broad consultations involving political parties, bar associations, the bar council, civil society groups, and constitutional experts to ensure comprehensive deliberations on the matter.
