MUZAFFARABAD: Polling has commenced in four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli districts as the third phase of the 2026 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) general elections gets underway.
Under the original election programme, voting was scheduled in seven constituencies spread across four districts during the third phase. However, the Election Commission later revised the schedule, with polling now taking place in three constituencies of Bagh and one in Haveli. Elections in five constituencies of Poonch and two of Sudhanoti have been deferred.
The latest phase is being closely watched due to the participation of several prominent political figures, including Muslim Conference President and former AJK prime minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) leader and former AJK premier Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, and incumbent AJK Prime Minister Faisal Rathore.
According to the Chief Election Commissioner, approximately 460,000 voters are registered across the four constituencies participating in the third phase. Authorities have deployed security personnel and finalised arrangements to ensure peaceful polling.
Earlier Election Phases
The first phase covered 13 seats in the Mirpur Division, where the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won nine seats and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured four.
In the second phase, voters cast ballots for nine general seats in Muzaffarabad Division along with 12 refugee-reserved seats. The PML-N secured 15 seats, while the PPP won six.
Following the completion of the first two phases, the 45-member AJK Legislative Assembly has the PML-N leading with 24 seats, while the PPP holds 10.
The outcome of the third phase is expected to play a crucial role in determining the final political balance in the AJK Assembly.
