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AJK Election Commission Sets July 27 Polling Date

The decision starts a compressed nomination timetable, activates an immediate code of conduct and prompts stepped-up security following the assembly’s vote to retain 12 refugee-reserved seats.

Overview

  • The Election Commission announced the schedule Friday and fixed polling for July 27 with voting from 8am to 5pm and a nomination window running June 9–19.
  • A code of conduct took effect immediately and bars new government appointments, transfers and announcements of development projects to protect the campaign period from official influence.
  • The AJK Legislative Assembly voted to retain 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees, a move that has fuelled opposition from the Joint Awami Action Committee which is calling for their abolition.
  • Authorities are finalising security plans that include additional armed forces, Rangers and police deployments to manage a roughly 3.4 million electorate that now includes over 500,000 newly registered voters.
  • The government has issued travel warnings for early June ahead of planned JAAC protests, a precaution rooted in past demonstrations that turned violent and a dispute that could shape campaign themes and voter turnout.