AJK Elections: A Three-Phase Polling Process to Shape the Region's Future

In a significant development, the Chief Election Commissioner of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, has announced that the upcoming elections in the region will be held in three phases, commencing on July 27. The decision marks a departure from the earlier single-day election schedule. The phased polling process will see Mirpur Division going to the polls first on July 27, followed by Muzaffarabad Division on August 2, and Poonch Division on August 10. A total of 1,265 candidates have submitted their nomination papers for the 45 constituencies, including 12 refugee constituencies. The AJK Election Commission has completed the scrutiny process, rejecting 41 nomination papers on legal grounds. The elections will see 22 political parties participating, with the notable exception of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has boycotted the polls. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and JUI-F have formed an alliance, with the PPP ceding two seats to the JUI-F. The campaign trail is heating up, with PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari leading his party's efforts and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif expected to address rallies in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur.