MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission has registered three more political parties ahead of the general election 2026, bringing the total number of registered parties to 12.
According to the press release issued by the election commission, the newly registered parties include Qaumi Ittehad Party Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan Peoples Party (Shaheed Bhutto) Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Jammu and Kashmir Awami Dast-o-Bazo.
The electoral body said that the registration of these political parties was made under the directives of the High Court of AJK and the Election Act 2020.
Moreover, the commission has extended the earlier deadline of May 30 for registration of political parties by 10 days. “Now the process of registration of political parties will continue till June 10, 2026.”
It further added that all political parties that meet the conditions and legal criteria prescribed under the AJK Elections Act, 2020, can submit their applications along with the required documents to the Election Commission by June 10.
In addition, the commission also rejected reports circulating on social media claiming that the registrations of 33 political parties had been cancelled ahead of the general election in the region.
In its clarification, the commission stated that no political party had been cancelled or banned. Instead, it explained that the previous registration framework ceased to exist following the High Court’s decision, after which a fresh registration process was initiated under the Elections Act 2020.
“The Election Commission is committed to completing all legal requirements in a timely manner for the conduct of free, fair and transparent elections and to making the electoral system stronger and more effective,” the press release stated.
Registered political parties
Earlier on Wednesday, the electoral body said that only 33 out of 42 political parties have been registered under the directives of the High Court and the Election Act 2020.
The registered parties include the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, Jamaat-e-Islami, Jammu and Kashmir People’s Party (JKPP), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation League, Sad-e-Haq Party, Jamaat-e-Falah-e-Insaniyat, and Markazi Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadeeth.
The electoral body said that the parties were informed about the new registration requirements, which included the submission of a registration fee of Rs200,000, certified copies of identity cards of at least 2,000 executive council and party members, audit reports, affidavits, financial details, and organizational records.
It is pertinent to mention that the registration application of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Azad Kashmir had already been rejected over financial irregularities and violations related to audit rules on May 16.
Other major parties whose registrations were cancelled or remained pending due to non-compliance are Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Jammu and Kashmir, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), Awami National Party (ANP), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Tehreek-e-Jafaria, Wahdat Muslimeen, Aam Aadmi Party, and several other regional and religious groups.
