AJK general elections to be held on July 27

Muzaffarabad (Web Desk): The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission has formally unveiled the timetable for the upcoming Legislative Assembly elections, announcing that voting will take place on July 27 between 8:00am and 5:00pm.

According to an official notification issued on Friday, polling will be conducted in all constituencies of the AJK Legislative Assembly in accordance with the boundaries finalized by the Delimitation Commission.

The electoral process will begin with the filing of nomination papers, which candidates can submit from June 9 until June 19, with the deadline set for 4:00pm on the final day. The scrutiny of nomination documents is scheduled for June 20.

Candidates who object to the acceptance or rejection of their nomination papers will have the opportunity to challenge the decision by filing appeals with the Election Commission from June 21 to June 24. These appeals will be heard on June 26 and June 27, while final rulings are expected to be issued no later than June 28.

Those wishing to withdraw from the race may do so by June 30. The Election Commission will release the final list of candidates on July 1, followed by the allocation of election symbols on July 2, paving the way for the concluding stage of electioneering.

The EC stated that the election programme has now been officially notified and that preparations for the polls are being completed in collaboration with the relevant authorities.

Officials added that the process of appointing Returning Officers (ROs) will commence following the issuance of the election schedule.

The electoral body also emphasized its commitment to ensuring a transparent, organised, and impartial electoral exercise under judicial supervision.

Meanwhile, arrangements for security are being finalized, with plans to deploy additional personnel from the armed forces, Rangers, and other law enforcement agencies to maintain peace and stability during the voting process.

Sources within the Election Commission said that more than 3.4 million registered voters are expected to participate in the elections.

They further revealed that over 500,000 new voters have recently been added to the electoral rolls, significantly expanding the electorate ahead of the polls.