ISLAMABAD: Polling for the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections ended peacefully on Monday, with vote counting underway across Bagh and Haveli districts of Poonch Division.
Voting started at 8 am and continued until 5 pm. The Election Commission had designated most of the 803 polling stations in the four constituencies as sensitive or highly sensitive.
Authorities deployed additional security personnel to ensure the peaceful conduct of polling and provide voters with a secure environment.
AJK Election Commission Secretary Raja Mohammad Shakeel said an additional 10,300 troops had been deployed alongside the regular police forces of Bagh and Haveli districts to maintain law and order.
The third phase is being held against the backdrop of tensions between the miscreants of the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and the authorities in different parts of AJK.
The polling time for the third phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) general elections in four constituencies of Bagh and Haveli districts concluded on Monday amid allegations of rigging by the PPP.
Read more: https://t.co/mpBfEouFRS#AzadKashmir #AJKelection pic.twitter.com/28GzLv44GU
— Kashmir Digital (@KashmirDigital1) August 10, 2026
Elections in the Mirpur and Muzaffarabad divisions were held on July 27 and August 2, respectively.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerged as the leading party with 24 seats, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has secured 10 seats in the elections held so far.
The third phase was initially scheduled to cover all 11 constituencies of Poonch Division. However, the Election Commission later decided to hold polling only in Bagh and Haveli because of concerns over the security situation.
The remaining seven constituencies – five in Poonch district and two in Sudhnoti district – are expected to go to the polls by August 20 or 21, according to the AJK election authorities.
PML-N to form Azad Kashmir govt with around two-thirds majority: Advisor
Earlier, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan said the PML-N will form the government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir with around a two-thirds majority.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, along with Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam, he said the AJK elections were held in a free, fair and transparent manner.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan has said the PML-N will form the government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir with around a two-thirds majority.#News #RadioPakistan https://t.co/No63WAnDj8
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) August 10, 2026
He said the elements who sought to disrupt the elections in the territory failed in their attempts. He urged those staging a sit-in in Rawalakot to call it off, saying the people of Azad Kashmir have given their mandate to their elected representatives.
In his remarks, Amir Muqam expressed gratitude to the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir for reposing confidence in the PML-N. He said the people turned out in large numbers to exercise their right to vote and assured that the promises made to them would be fulfilled.
Key contests
Monday’s polling assumed particular significance as AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore and former premiers Sardar Tanveer Ilyas and Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan seek to retain or regain their political positions.
A total of 460,371 voters, including 238,664 men and 221,707 women, were eligible to vote at 803 polling stations comprising 1,254 polling booths.
As many as 82 candidates contested the four seats. LA-14 (Dhirkot) attracted the largest field with 30 candidates, while LA-17 (Haveli) had nine candidates.
Also Read: Azad Kashmir Election: Third-Phase Voting Underway in Bagh and Haveli Districts
In LA-17 (Haveli), Prime Minister Rathore was contesting against PML-N candidate Engr Mohsin Aziz and independent candidate Khawaja Tariq Saeed, a member of the AJK Council.
Rathore and Saeed were previously political allies and had reportedly agreed to contest the constituency alternately. However, after becoming prime minister, Rathore sought Saeed’s withdrawal in his favour. Saeed declined, resulting in the former allies becoming electoral rivals.
Aziz is also considered a strong contender, drawing support from the sizeable Gujjar community. His father, Chaudhry Mohammad Aziz, had won the constituency on several occasions. A recent major election rally organised by Aziz in Forward Kahuta was seen as a sign of growing support for his campaign.
Saeed is believed to have backing among a significant section of the Kashmiri community and several smaller clans. Rathore, meanwhile, has expressed confidence in retaining the seat, pointing to the performance of his government during his relatively short tenure.
