Azad Jammu and Kashmir

PML-N and PPP each secured one seat in Muzaffarabad division following delayed elections caused by landslides and weather disruptions. PML-N's Noreen Arif won LA-27 (Kutla) with 18,919 votes, while PPP's Syed Bazil Ali Naqvi secured LA-28 (Lachhrat) with 28,214 votes. The second phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections included 12 refugee-reserved seats and faced protests over the inclusion of these seats.

PML-N and PPP candidates are set to secure one seat each in two delayed AJK constituencies. PPP's Bazil Ali Naqvi leads in LA-28 while PML-N's Noreen Arif holds a narrow lead in LA-27, with both constituencies marked by allegations of irregularities and fake votes.

Protests in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (Azad Jammu and Kashmir) have escalated from economic grievances like electricity bills and flour prices into broader challenges to Islamabad’s governance. The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), a coalition of traders, students, and activists, leads the unrest, demanding political and economic reforms amid high youth unemployment and poor public services.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) alleged rigging in two Muzaffarabad constituencies during Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, citing incidents of ballot stuffing, intimidation, and staff misconduct. Polling in LA-27 and LA-28 was delayed due to landslides and bad weather, while the PPP accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of electoral malpractices. PML-N's election coordinator denied the claims, attributing their early-phase victories to public trust.

AJK Information Secretary Muhammad Rashid Hanif reported that seven law enforcement personnel, including police and Rangers, were martyred during recent unrest linked to protests by the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). Clashes in Rawalakot and Mirpur resulted in casualties, while elections in the region faced rigging allegations. Hanif accused JAAC of harboring armed elements and spreading misinformation, rejecting claims of unprovoked violence by security forces.

The PML-N secured 14 seats in the second phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, while the PPP won four, according to unofficial results. Polling was delayed in some areas due to landslides and bad weather, and the PPP accused PML-N of rigging and violence, similar to claims during the first phase. The third phase of polling will occur in Poonch division.

PML-N appears to lead in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections after unofficial results from the second phase showed it winning most contests, including 10 of 12 refugee constituencies. The PPP claims two refugee and two territorial seats but alleges widespread rigging, while sporadic violence and delayed polling in some areas due to landslides and weather disruptions were reported.

Youth in Khuzdar, Balochistan, peacefully protested the closure of a local library by holding a sit-in, leading to its reopening. The library was shut by local bureaucracy, which viewed students' use of the space as a potential security threat. The protest highlights generational tensions between youth aspirations and power structures.

PML-N and PPP leaders resumed talks to address tensions over alleged rigging in four Mirpur division constituencies during the AJK elections. Both parties agreed on enhancing security for the upcoming polling phase and discussed resolving complaints through political and legal channels.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari received a response from the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) regarding his proposal for a Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). He plans to consult stakeholders, including AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, to determine next steps amid ongoing protests over the removal of 12 refugee-reserved seats in the region’s Legislative Assembly. The regional government banned JAAC, accusing it of terrorism and destabilizing the region.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari warned that stealing the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) election would trigger a 'countdown' for the federal government. Addressing a rally in Muzaffarabad ahead of August 2 elections, he urged the PML-N and PTI to abandon boycott tactics and focus on fair political processes, emphasizing mass voter turnout to prevent electoral rigging.

HRCP and Amnesty International have called for a prompt, independent investigation into violence in Rawalakot, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, following clashes between protesters and law enforcement. The unrest, linked to protests by the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) demanding the abolition of 12 legislative seats, has resulted in casualties and a communications blackout in the region.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir's first three-phase general elections are underway amid political unrest and security concerns. Preliminary results show PML-N leading over PPP, but fears persist that phased results may influence later voting. The PTI has boycotted the polls, citing unfairness, while security clashes and irregularities have been reported.

AJK Information Secretary Muhammad Rashid Hanif claimed a significant number of Fitna Al Khawarij terrorists, linked to banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, were present among protesters of the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). Security forces reported armed militants using modern weapons and human shields, resulting in one police death and five injuries, with a foreign suspect arrested in Rawalakot.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz praised PML-N's victory in the first phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections and urged the PPP to accept defeat. She criticized the PPP for alleging election rigging, arguing that the PPP's governance in AJK had worsened conditions and failed to deliver results.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari called for the government and protesters in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to agree on forming a truth and reconciliation commission to resolve ongoing tensions. The regional administration and JAAC are at odds over the proposed abolition of 12 seats in AJK’s Legislative Assembly, leading to protests.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecasts a fresh monsoon rain spell from July 29 to August 5, affecting multiple regions including Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Balochistan, and Sindh, with varying intensities of rainfall and thundershowers. The forecast highlights potential flooding risks in areas already impacted by previous rains.

PML-N won nine out of 13 seats in Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Mirpur division in preliminary election results. The election process faced security concerns and allegations of electoral malpractice between PML-N and PPP. The second and third phases are scheduled for August 2 and August 10.

Pakistan's Foreign Office condemned Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's remarks on Kashmir, calling them 'highly provocative and irresponsible' and warning India against underestimating Pakistan's resolve to counter 'adventurism'. Singh asserted there would be 'no talks with Pakistan' and claimed Azad Jammu and Kashmir is 'illegally occupied', prompting Pakistan to accuse India of undermining UN resolutions and regional peace.

A hybrid government in Pakistan faces intensifying domestic challenges, including public discontent, militant violence in Balochistan, TTP-sponsored attacks in KP, and political polarization. The government's reliance on repression and coercive measures to manage unrest is criticized as ineffective, with rising public anger over cost-of-living burdens and power outages.

The first phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections began in Mirpur division with 288 candidates competing across 13 constituencies. Security measures include 18,560 personnel from police, Rangers, and the Army, with polling held at 2,316 stations. The election is being conducted in three phases due to security concerns, with subsequent phases scheduled for August 2 and August 10.

Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari of the PPP responded to Nawaz Sharif of the PML-N, asserting that residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and similar-named regions will not surrender their political rights. The exchange occurs ahead of AJK's first election phase in Mirpur, amid allegations of pre-poll rigging and criticism of PML-N's 'gifts' of e-buses. Bilawal emphasized the PPP's infrastructure and educational projects in AJK, contrasting them with the PML-N's promises.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced the arrest of a digital marketing professional accused of spreading anti-state content online in exchange for Indian funding. The suspect allegedly used bot farms to promote sectarian violence and anti-army narratives, with WhatsApp chats and transactions linking him to Indian operators. The government claims irrefutable evidence of ties between the arrested individual and the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which it accuses of harming the Kashmir cause.

The 2026 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) legislative election is unfolding amid violent protests led by the defunct Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) and the absence of two major political groups, JAAC and PTI, which have historically influenced the region's politics. The election will be held in three phases due to security concerns, with the third phase in Poonch (Rawlakot) division delayed until August 10, raising questions about the legitimacy and representativeness of the new legislative assembly.

Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz pledged infrastructure and welfare projects for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), including an international airport and electric buses, amid PPP criticism over electioneering tactics. PPP accused the PML-N of making pre-poll promises and urged the Election Commission to address the issue.

Nawaz Sharif criticized the lack of development in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) after his removal from power, vowing to implement a manifesto prioritizing education, healthcare, and infrastructure if PML-N wins the upcoming elections. He and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced plans for schools, hospitals, and natural gas access in AJK, emphasizing their party's past contributions to the region.

3,172 gender-based violence cases were reported in Pakistan from January to June 2026, with murders, torture, and abductions being the most common. Punjab accounted for 74% of cases, followed by Sindh with 17%, and 10 districts were identified as most vulnerable.

The Pakistani government plans to reduce the population growth rate from 2.55% to 1.25% by 2035 through a national strategy involving provinces and stakeholders. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized population control as a critical national challenge and welcomed a Chinese firm's investment to modernize grain storage infrastructure.

President Asif Ali Zardari directed federal, provincial, and local authorities to enhance monsoon preparedness, rescue, and relief efforts amid ongoing rains causing flash floods, landslides, and other hazards. At least 37 people have died, and infrastructure has been damaged in multiple regions, with warnings of continued risks in northern areas.

Rains and floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Punjab have caused 37 deaths, damaging infrastructure, crops, and homes. Heavy rainfall and landslides disrupted roads and trade routes, while India's release of excess water exacerbated flooding in rivers like Chenab.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari described the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections as the 'most significant' in the region's history, stating the outcome will determine its future. He emphasized securing self-governance, employment rights, and self-rule for AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, citing historical efforts by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, and Asif Ali Zardari to establish constitutional rights for the region.

PML-N launched its election campaign in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) with party leader Nawaz Sharif addressing supporters in Muzaffarabad. He emphasized the need for a motorway along the Jhelum River and the party announced candidates for 37 of AJK's 45 constituencies.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly has unanimously demanded provisional provincial status for the region, citing cross-party and ethnic support. The resolution emphasizes constitutional rights and inclusion in the NFC Award while reaffirming Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir dispute. Past leaders like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and recent political figures have incrementally advanced GB’s integration, but the demand for full democratic rights remains unresolved.

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections are shaping as a contest between PML-N's Nawaz Sharif and PPP's Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, with both leaders intensifying campaigns. PML-N faces criticism over its perceived role in a crackdown on JAAC protests, while PPP claims the federal government, not the AJK administration, is responsible for the unrest.

The Chenab River surged to 180,000 cusecs due to floods in Indian-occupied Kashmir, causing at least 11 deaths and prompting flood warnings for Chenab and Ravi rivers. A landslide in Azad Jammu and Kashmir's Kotli district killed a woman and two children, while the Flood Forecasting Division warned of increased flows from heavy monsoon rains and westerly waves.

Pakistan faces a three-front security challenge involving India, cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan, and internal unrest. Provinces like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan experience escalating militant attacks from groups such as Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), while Azad Jammu and Kashmir sees violent public protests. The security situation reflects expanded militant reach and political alienation in regions like Balochistan.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addressed a rally in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) ahead of regional elections on July 27, expressing hope for forming a government and seeking better public support than in previous elections. He criticized a murder case against PPP candidate Javed Badhanvi and pledged employment opportunities and self-government rights for AJK residents.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari proposed abolishing the federal Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and enhancing constitutional empowerment for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). He emphasized greater regional representation in federal institutions, constitutional reforms via stakeholder consultations, and a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address unrest in AJK.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari pledged to represent the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in the federal government and internationally, criticizing the current political leadership for failing to bridge the gap between AJK and the center. He proposed a truth and reconciliation commission to resolve AJK's issues and urged both the government and protesters to halt actions until the commission addresses grievances.

Political efforts in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) ahead of elections focus on engaging with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which protests against refugee seats in the legislature. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are visiting the region to campaign, while the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) Chairman Syed Qamar Raza attempted a personal initiative to persuade JAAC leaders to abandon violence.