MUZAFFARABAD (Dunya News) – The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission has revised the schedule for the third phase of the 2026 general elections, postponing polling in Poonch and Sudhanoti districts due to the prevailing law and order situation.
Under the original schedule, polling was to be held on 11 seats across four districts of the Poonch Division on August 10. However, the Election Commission announced that third-phase voting will now be conducted only in Bagh and Haveli districts, while polling in all constituencies of Poonch and Sudhanoti has been deferred.
The Election Commission said the revised schedule was issued in view of the security situation, adding that a new polling date for the postponed constituencies will be announced after reviewing the prevailing conditions.
The first and second phases of the AJK general elections were held on July 27 and August 2 in the Mirpur and Muzaffarabad divisions, respectively.
PM Shehbaz congratulates PML-N on victory in AJK elections
According to unofficial and unconfirmed results, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has emerged as the leading party in the elections. Prime Minister's Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said the party had secured a simple majority and was set to form the next government in Azad Kashmir.
The second phase of polling was held across 21 constituencies, including nine seats in the Muzaffarabad Division and 12 reserved seats for Kashmiri refugees residing in Pakistan. Unofficial results showed the PML-N winning 15 seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured six.
In the first phase of the elections, the PML-N won nine constituencies, while the PPP secured four seats, according to provisional and unofficial results.
Both phases were accompanied by allegations of rigging and violence from the PPP. Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari described the elections as neither free nor fair and alleged widespread irregularities.
The PML-N rejected the allegations, with Rana Sanaullah challenging the PPP to present evidence before the Election Commission. He said allegations of rigging should be supported by proof rather than political claims.