1224 candidates in run in AJK General Elections-2026 to capture 53-seat State Legislative Assembly

Muzaffarabad : A total of 1224 candidates have jumped into scheduled July 28 Azad Jammu Kashmir General Elections-2026 to capture 53-seat State Legislative Assembly, lower house of the AJK Parliament.

A total of 1,265 candidates had filed nomination papers for the 45 constituencies of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly to contest Polls on direct adult franchise basis by June 23, last date for filing of the nomination papers, a spokesperson of the Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir told our Special Jammu Kashmir state Correspondent Altaf Hamid Rao on Saturday.

Elaborating the spokesperson said that 1,047 candidates filed nomination papers from 33 constituencies within AJK, while 218 candidates submitted their papers for the 12 constituencies reserved for Jammu and Kashmir refugees residing in Pakistan.

In the due course of scrutiny process, the Election Commission rejected 41 nomination papers. Candidates whose papers were rejected may file appeals between June 25 and June 28. So far, 12 appeals have been received, while the deadline for filing appeals is set for tomorrow, the spokesman said.

According to the Election Commission, hearings on the appeals will be conducted on June 29 and 30. The scrutiny process will be completed and final decisions on appeals will be announced on July 1st and 2nd.

The spokesperson stated that all stages of the election schedule were being completed on time to ensure holding of free, fair, and transparent elections across Azad Jammu and Kashmir besides 12 seats meantforPakistanbasedJammuKashmirrefugeesand the AJK residents. . ENDS