Pakistan's ruling party has secured a commanding lead in the legislative assembly elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, according to results from the first two phases of voting announced on Wednesday. Candidates aligned with the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) party, led by twice-elected former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, have already claimed 24 of the 34 seats decided so far. Regional election commission spokesman Raja Shakeel confirmed the results, noting that the party is well on its way to forming the next regional government.
The election is being conducted in three distinct phases due to a combination of security challenges and heavy monsoon rains, which disrupted campaigning and made large outdoor rallies difficult. Despite these hurdles and active calls for a boycott, voter turnout was robust. Officials reported that turnout exceeded 50% in numerous areas, including the regional capital of Muzaffarabad, where turnout surpassed 56%. This election marks a significant milestone for the PML-N, signaling its return to power in Pakistan-administered Kashmir after a decade-long absence.
The voting process took place amid a tense atmosphere, overshadowed by weeks of protests and boycott campaigns organized by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). The regional government recently banned the JAAC, citing concerns over public order and security. Supporters of the outlawed group had repeatedly clashed with police in the lead-up to Sunday's vote. However, residents chose to exercise their franchise despite fears of violence. Political analysts observed that the high turnout, in defiance of the JAAC's boycott and protests, reinforced public confidence in the democratic process.
At the heart of the political unrest is a dispute over 12 legislative seats reserved for people displaced from Indian-controlled Kashmir since the end of British colonial rule in 1947. The JAAC has demanded the abolition of these seats, arguing that they grant disproportionate political influence to individuals residing outside Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The controversy deepened in June when the region's Supreme Court ruled that these reserved seats are constitutionally protected and cannot be dismantled without a formal constitutional amendment.
These disputed seats were originally established to ensure representation for displaced families from Indian-controlled Kashmir who settled in other parts of Pakistan because the Pakistan-administered region lacked the capacity to house them. While some have lived in other Pakistani provinces for decades, others later relocated to Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The government, which notes that the JAAC was formed in 2023 to demand greater political rights, stated it has already accepted 36 of the group's 38 demands. Officials maintain that the remaining issue of reserved seats can only be legally resolved by the legislative assembly.
The broader geopolitical backdrop remains defined by the long-standing conflict between Pakistan and India, both of whom claim the Himalayan region of Kashmir in its entirety and have fought two of their three wars over it since gaining independence. In the current local context, authorities have accused JAAC supporters of attempting to disrupt the democratic process and alleged that members of the Pakistani Taliban have infiltrated the protests. The JAAC has not issued a response to these allegations. Following the announcement of the initial election results, Nawaz Sharif issued a statement congratulating his party's winning candidates.
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