Azad Jammu and Kashmir is in the midst of a crucial electoral exercise, one that carries immense significance given the political unrest that has gripped the region in recent months. Free and fair elections are essential to finding a democratic solution to AJK’s challenges, which is why the current three‑phase polls must be conducted with absolute integrity. The process began on Monday with voting in Mirpur division, will continue on August 2 in Muzaffarabad division along with 12 refugee seats, and conclude on August 10 in Poonch. This is the first time general elections in AJK are being held in phases, a decision that has raised concerns about fairness and transparency.

Preliminary results from the first phase suggest that the PML‑N is in the lead, with the PPP trailing behind. While the complete picture will only emerge after consolidated results are announced, many observers worry that early trends could influence voter behaviour in subsequent rounds. Even if security considerations necessitated phased polls, the announcement of results before the entire exercise is complete risks undermining perceptions of neutrality. The election commissioner has described these polls as the most difficult in AJK’s history, and clashes between the banned Joint Awami Action Committee and law enforcement in Rawalakot, along with reports of irregularities, have reinforced those concerns.

Although AJK’s election laws require immediate declaration of results, the authorities should consider amending this provision in future. Pakistan’s national elections are not held in phases, and therefore announcing results immediately is not problematic. But in AJK’s case, where phased polling was introduced at short notice, the impact of early announcements on later rounds cannot be ignored. Transparency must be balanced with fairness, and reforms to electoral law could help ensure that phased polls do not inadvertently skew outcomes.

The stakes are high. A credible election can lower political temperatures and provide a democratic path forward for a region grappling with both political and economic discontent. Yet trust deficits remain prominent. The PTI, which formed the government in 2021, has boycotted the exercise, arguing that fair polls are impossible under current circumstances. The opposition TTAP alliance has raised its own concerns, while independent candidates backed by the banned JAAC were barred from contesting. These exclusions have added to the perception that the playing field is uneven.

It is clear that beyond the conduct of fair elections, the next government must engage with all political forces in AJK to address common challenges. Democratic legitimacy cannot rest solely on ballots; it must be reinforced by inclusive governance and dialogue. Only then can the cycle of unrest be broken and the region move towards stability.