Islamabad Tightens Security Ahead of PoK Legislative Elections Amid Growing Unrest

Amid continuing protests and clashes, the legislative assembly elections in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) are set to begin today. Voting for 45 directly contested seats will be conducted in three phases, with the election process scheduled to conclude on August 10. The PoK legislative assembly consists of 53 seats, out of which 45 members are elected directly by voters. The remaining eight seats are reserved for women, technocrats and religious representatives.

According to PoK Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, polling for 13 constituencies in the Mirpur division will take place on July 27. Voting for nine constituencies in the Muzaffarabad division and all 12 refugee constituencies will be held on August 2, while the final phase covering 11 constituencies in the Poonch division is scheduled for August 10.

The elections are taking place under a tense security situation, with Islamabad preparing for possible unrest during the polling process. Pakistan’s Punjab province has deployed around 14,000 police personnel to PoK for election-related security duties. Of these, nearly 30 per cent are armed, while the remaining personnel have been equipped with anti-riot gear, according to a Pakistani government official quoted by news agency PTI.

The additional security deployment comes after months of protests led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which triggered one of the region’s biggest political crises in recent years. The protests, which continued for nearly two months, were driven by demands including the removal of refugee seats in the assembly. These seats were originally reserved for refugees who settled in PoK after the 1947 partition.

The unrest resulted in violent clashes between protesters and security forces, with several people, including police personnel, reported to have been killed. Following the escalation, Islamabad imposed restrictions on the JAAC and banned the organisation. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) are expected to be the main contenders. The two parties are currently coalition partners in Pakistan’s federal government. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has chosen to boycott the elections.

The polls are being held at a time when public anger over governance, economic challenges and political representation remains high in PoK. The election outcome is expected to reflect the mood of voters following months of protests and tensions with authorities. India has also closely followed developments in PoK, maintaining that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, including areas under Pakistan’s control, are integral parts of India. New Delhi has repeatedly stated that Pakistan is in illegal and forcible occupation of these territories.

India said the protests in PoK were a result of what it described as decades of administrative neglect, exploitation and lack of political rights under Islamabad’s control. It also criticised the reported use of force against demonstrators during the unrest. As polling begins, the PoK elections are being viewed as a major political test for Islamabad, with attention focused on voter participation, security arrangements and whether the new assembly can address the region’s long-standing grievances.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from