New Delhi: Pakistan has thrown an extensive security cordon around Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) as the region heads into legislative assembly elections, with authorities fearing fresh unrest after weeks of protests and growing political tensions.
Nearly 14,000 police personnel have been deployed for the first phase of polling, making it one of the largest security operations witnessed in the region in recent years. Officials said about 30% of the force is armed, while the remaining personnel have been assigned crowd control duties to ensure voting remains peaceful.
The elections, spread over three phases from July 27 to August 10, will decide 45 directly elected members of the 53 seat assembly. The remaining eight seats are reserved for women, technocrats and religious scholars under the existing electoral system.
Polling has begun in the Mirpur division, while voters in Muzaffarabad division and refugee constituencies will cast their ballots on August 2. The final phase, covering the Poonch division, is scheduled for August 10.
This year’s election, however, is unfolding under the shadow of widespread public anger. Over the past several weeks, Pakistan occupied Kashmir has witnessed repeated demonstrations led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), with protesters demanding the abolition of 12 assembly seats reserved for refugees who settled in the region after 1947.
Several of those demonstrations turned violent, leading to clashes between protesters and security forces. The unrest resulted in multiple casualties and injuries before Pakistani authorities moved to ban the JAAC, citing concerns over law and order.
The political battle is also expected to be closely contested. Pakistan’s ruling coalition partners the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) are contesting the elections independently despite governing together at the federal level. In contrast, former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has decided to stay away from the electoral process, boycotting the polls.
The elections are being watched beyond Pakistan as well. India has consistently maintained that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including the areas under Pakistan’s control, are an integral part of India. New Delhi has also argued in the past that recurring protests in PoK highlight growing dissatisfaction among residents over governance and economic conditions.
With voting now underway under unprecedented security arrangements, all eyes will be on whether the election process remains peaceful. The outcome is expected to shape not only the region’s political future but also influence the broader discourse surrounding stability in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, where public discontent has intensified in recent months.
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