PoK Election Turns Deadly: At Least 19 Killed As Protests Intensify Amid Rigging Charges And Rival Party Clashes
The first phase of elections to the so-called legislative assembly in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) turned violent on Monday (July 27), with at least 19 people killed and several others injured, as rival political parties traded accusations of poll rigging amid continuing anti-government protests. The toll is feared to rise further, with several of the injured reported to be in critical condition. The elections, originally scheduled for July 27, are being held in three phases running until August 10.
India does not recognise the elections held in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and has consistently maintained that Pakistan is in illegal occupation of the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. The Ministry of External Affairs has repeatedly opposed such polls, reiterating that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including PoK and Gilgit-Baltistan, remain integral and inalienable parts of India. New Delhi has described the unrest in PoK as a direct consequence of Islamabad’s “systemic exploitation and administrative oppression” in territories under its “forcible occupation.”
Protesters Allege Indiscriminate Firing
The election-day violence coincided with continuing demonstrations led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), whose supporters accused Pakistani security forces of opening fire on protesters in Rawalakot. The march had begun from Mirpur Division on Sunday, with caravans converging at a sit-in in Rawalakot before demonstrations intensified after talks between the JAAC and the authorities collapsed, prompting thousands of protesters to march towards Muzaffarabad.
19 شہداۓ راولاکوٹ لانگ مارچ 27 جولائی 2026 بروز سوموار
1) نعیم بٹ ، کوٹلی آزاد جموں کشمیر
2) عثمان نذیر ، راولاکوٹ آزاد جموں کشمیر
3) نثار احمد ، بلوچ آزاد جموں کشمیر
4) کاشف یعقوب راولاکوٹ آزاد جموں کشمیر
5) سردار فدا حسین تراڑکھل آزاد جموں کشمیر
6) مزمل ، علی سوجل آزاد…— Awami Action Committe (@JAAC__Official) July 28, 2026
In a post on X, the Joint Awami Action Committee disclosed the names of those killed in the firing.
PPP Worker Killed In Firing
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) said one of its workers, Mukhtar Yunus, was killed while two others were injured in firing allegedly carried out by supporters of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). “Our party worker, Mukhtar Yunus, was killed and two others injured during incidents of firing by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidates,” the PPP said in a statement.
PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari questioned the role of election authorities, asking, “Where are the relevant authorities? What is the Election Commission doing?”
Both the PPP and the PML-N accused each other of electoral malpractice in multiple constituencies, while polling was briefly disrupted at several stations following clashes between rival supporters.
The so-called assembly has 53 seats, including 45 directly elected seats and eight reserved seats for women, technocrats and clerics. The first phase covered all 13 constituencies in Mirpur Division; polling in Muzaffarabad Division and the 12 refugee constituencies is scheduled for August 2, followed by the Poonch (Rawalakot) Division on August 10.
PTI Boycott, JAAC Banned
Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) boycotted the polls, while the Joint Awami Action Committee has been banned by the authorities.
According to PTI, more than 100 people were killed during violent clashes following last month’s JAAC-led protests, which disrupted normal life in the region for nearly 50 days.
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The JAAC had demanded the abolition of 12 refugee seats in the assembly, a demand rejected by the government. Following the violence, authorities banned the organisation.
March Began After Talks Failed
The march towards Muzaffarabad was launched after negotiations between the JAAC and the administration failed to produce an agreement. The committee had earlier given authorities until 1 pm on July 27 to issue a notification accepting its demands, including the release of detained activists, withdrawal of criminal cases against protesters, and implementation of broader reforms.
When no agreement was reached, thousands gathered in Rawalakot and began marching towards the regional capital.
Authorities have also postponed elections in the Sudhnoti and Rawalakot districts until August 10 due to the ongoing protest movement.