First phase of AJK elections begins amid rigging allegations

PPP accuses federal government of interfering in the polls; flag rigging attempts at Radh Kattar, Kotli

ISLAMABAD:

Polling for the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections began across Mirpur Division on Monday, with more than 1.4 million voters expected to cast their ballots under extensive security arrangements, even as the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) accused the federal government of rigging.

The elections are being held in three phases under a revised schedule announced by AJK Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal on July 21. The first phase covers all 13 constituencies in Mirpur Division, while polling in Muzaffarabad Division and the 12 refugee constituencies will be held on August 2, followed by Poonch (Rawalakot) Division on August 10.

Polling commenced at 8:00am and will continue uninterrupted until 5:00pm, with police, the Pakistan Army, Rangers and other law enforcement personnel deployed at polling stations to ensure a peaceful electoral process.

More than 1.4 million registered voters are eligible to vote across Mirpur Division's 13 constituencies, comprising four seats in Mirpur district, three in Bhimber and six in Kotli. The Election Commission has established 2,454 polling stations and 3,701 polling booths, while around 22,000 election officials have been deployed to conduct the polling process.

PPP accuses federal government of rigging

Meanwhile, PPP Secretary General Nadeem Afzal Chan accused the federal government of interfering in the ongoing AJK elections, calling for a free and transparent electoral process and urging the federal administration to refrain from influencing the vote.

In a video message shared on the PPP's official X account, Chan referred to a statement by PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah alleging electoral irregularities in a constituency in Kotli.

آج صبح رانا ثناء اللہ صاحب کی اسٹیٹمنٹ دیکھی، وہ کہہ رہے ہیں کوٹلی کے حلقہ میں الیکشن میں دھاندلی ہو رہی ہے۔ ندیم افضل چن۔

پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی تو پہلے دن سے کہتی ہے کہ وفاقی وزراء منصوبوں کا اعلان کر رہے ہیں، پولنگ والے دن بھی سرکاری جگہوں پر بیٹھے ہیں، یہ الیکشن میں دھاندلی ہے۔… pic.twitter.com/Aatim7jS3g

— Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP (@PPP_Org) July 27, 2026

"I saw Rana Sanaullah's statement this morning. He is saying that rigging is taking place in a Kotli constituency," Chan said. He maintained that the PPP had, "from day one," been raising concerns over what it described as the federal government's involvement in the elections.

"Federal ministers have been announcing development projects and are sitting in government offices even on polling day. This amounts to interference in the elections," he said.

Chan said the party's foremost demand was that "the federal administration and the federal machinery must not interfere in the elections under any circumstances."

He added that the PPP had repeatedly written to the AJK Chief Election Commissioner, urging the commission to ensure that the elections were conducted in a free and fair manner. "The announcements of development projects in Kashmir, the sending of buses and the use of state resources should be stopped immediately," he said.

Responding to allegations regarding the recovery of polling bags in Kotli, Chan said the polling staff had been staying overnight at the home of a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporter.

"Rana Sahib is saying rigging is taking place in Kotli and that polling bags have been recovered. I want to point out that polling staff have to stay somewhere, and they were staying at the house of a PTI worker," he said.

Chan urged political parties to compete through the electoral process rather than making allegations and said that the party had written to the Election Commission demanding transparent elections.

To combat rigging attempts, the party said it has established a Kashmir Election Monitoring Cell at its Central Secretariat in Islamabad to oversee the AJK elections. According to a statement issued by the party, the monitoring cell was set up on the instructions of the PPP's central leadership to monitor the electoral process.

اسلام آباد: پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کی مرکزی قیادت کی ہدایات پر آزاد جموں و کشمیر قانون ساز اسمبلی کے انتخابات کی نگرانی کے لیے پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی سینٹرل سیکریٹریٹ اسلام آباد میں کشمیر الیکشن مانیٹرنگ سیل قائم کر دیا گیا ہے۔

مانیٹرنگ سیل میں موجود پاکستان پیپلز پارٹی کے سینئر رہنما… pic.twitter.com/uBhmACkm3w

— Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP (@PPP_Org) July 27, 2026

The party said senior PPP leaders stationed at the monitoring cell are maintaining continuous contact with the Election Commission, district administration, relevant institutions, as well as the party's candidates and representatives to ensure effective oversight of the elections.

The PPP said it was taking all possible measures to help ensure that the electoral process remained free, fair, transparent, and impartial, while safeguarding the public's right to vote in accordance with the election code of conduct.

The monitoring cell includes PPP Central Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman, Central Information Secretary Nadeem Afzal Chan, senior party leader Shazia Marri, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, Sindh Minister Saeed Ghani, and other senior party leaders.

In a separate post, the party alleged that workers of the PML-N interfered with the polling process in LA-8 Kotli-I, calling on the AJK Election Commission to take immediate action.

ایل اے-8 کوٹلی ون میں مسلم لیگ (ن) کی جانب سے پولنگ کے عمل میں مداخلت کی جا رہی ہے، الیکشن کمیشن فوری نوٹس لے، سردار عبدالشکور، انچارج الیکشن سیل، پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی آزاد جموں و کشمیر

مظفرآباد: پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی آزاد جموں و کشمیر کے الیکشن سیل کے انچارج سردار عبدالشکور نے کہا…

— Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP (@PPP_Org) July 27, 2026

PPP AJK Election Cell In-charge Sardar Abdul Shakoor alleged that PML-N workers attempted to disrupt polling at Polling Station 104, Radh Kattar, near the Line of Control (LoC), in Raj Mahal.

PPP also alleged attempts to influence polling in LA-12 Thurochi. Shakoor claimed that PML-N candidate Raja Riasat Khan had allegedly arrived at polling stations in Union Council Thurochi, the constituency of PPP candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, accompanied by armed individuals in an attempt to influence the voting process.

ایل اے-12 تھروچی میں پولنگ پر اثرانداز ہونے کی کوشش کی جا رہی ہے، الیکشن کمیشن فوری نوٹس لے، سردار عبدالشکور، انچارج الیکشن سیل، پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی آزاد جموں و کشمیر

مظفرآباد: پاکستان پیپلزپارٹی آزاد جموں و کشمیر کے الیکشن سیل کے انچارج سردار عبدالشکور نے کہا ہے کہ ایل اے-12،…

— Pakistan Peoples Party - PPP (@PPP_Org) July 27, 2026

Shakoor said the alleged incident had created fear among voters and claimed that slow mobile phone services were hampering communication for local residents, the media and emergency services.

Polling begins amid safety concerns

Authorities have declared 1,965 polling stations as sensitive or highly sensitive. To maintain law and order, more than 19,000 security personnel have been deployed across the division, including 17,000 police personnel, while 2,100 Army troops remain on standby as a backup force.

Read: Over 17,000 security personnel deployed as AJK polling begins today

In Constituency LA-1 Dadyal, polling got underway in a peaceful atmosphere under enhanced security measures. According to the Election Commission, 105,174 registered voters—including 53,211 men and 51,963 women—are eligible to cast their ballots in the constituency.

The Election Commission has established 139 polling stations and 234 polling booths in LA-1 Dadyal. Local authorities have declared all 139 polling stations sensitive, with security personnel deployed throughout the constituency.

A total of 288 candidates are contesting the 13 Legislative Assembly seats in Mirpur Division. As in previous elections, the main contests are expected to be between the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) and, in some constituencies, influential independent candidates.