MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission has initiated preparations for the 2026-27 local government (LG) elections, deciding to propose necessary amendments to the Local Government Act, 1990.
An important meeting regarding preparations for the local body elections was held under the chairmanship of AJK Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, an official press release said on Tuesday.
Senior Election Commission Member Khawaja Muhammad Ahsan, Member Syed Nazir-ul-Hasan Gilani, Secretary Ayaz Bashir, Election Commissioner Local Bodies Raja Rashid Mahmood and Superintendent Local Bodies Raja Mukhtiar Hussain attended the meeting.
The commission decided to recommend necessary amendments in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Local Government Act, 1990, regarding the holding of local body elections to the government.
A committee has also been constituted to prepare recommendations after examining local government election-related legislation in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh.
Furthermore, it was also decided that an estimate of the budget required for holding local government elections would be prepared and submitted to the government.
The Election Commission maintained that conducting local government elections is its constitutional responsibility and said it was prepared to fulfil its mandate.
The last local government elections were held in Azad Kashmir in 2022 under the Local Government Act, 1990, and related election rules.
