MUZAFFARABAD: The Election Commission has announced the schedule for general elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), issuing a formal notification confirming that polling will be held on July 27, 2026.
According to the notification, voting for all constituencies of the AJK Legislative Assembly will take place from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The election timetable outlines that candidates will submit nomination papers between June 9 and June 19, 2026. Scrutiny of nominations will be conducted on June 20, followed by the publication of a preliminary list of approved candidates on the same day.
Appeals against acceptance or rejection of nominations may be filed with the Election Commission from June 21 to June 24, with hearings scheduled for June 26 and 27. Final decisions on appeals will be announced between June 28 and June 29.
Candidates will be allowed to withdraw their nomination papers until June 30. The final list of contesting candidates will be published on July 1, while electoral symbols will be allotted on July 2, along with the final list of candidates.
The Election Commission said the notification is immediately enforceable and all arrangements for the elections will be completed according to the announced schedule.
Separately, the AJK Legislative Assembly recently passed a resolution maintaining 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees, describing their representation as a historical and constitutional reality.
The resolution emphasized the need for electoral reforms through the assembly, consultation with political parties, bar associations, civil society, and constitutional experts, and stated that such reforms fall under the mandate of elected representatives.