Elections and Protests in Pakistan-Administered Kashmir: What to Know

Pakistan-administered Kashmir is experiencing its most severe political crisis in years, following weeks of protests demanding electoral reforms that have resulted in casualties. The crisis has compelled authorities to hold elections in multiple phases, with the second round of voting taking place on August 2 amid boycott calls from activists and a business shutdown in Muzaffarabad, the region's main city. The third and final round is scheduled for August 10.

The protests, led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) of Jammu and Kashmir—a group designated as banned by the authorities—are pushing for changes to electoral laws and additional economic concessions for the region. The epicenter of the protests is Rawalakot, the capital of Poonch division in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), one of the two areas comprising Pakistan-administered Kashmir, the other being Gilgit-Baltistan. AJK has its own legislative assembly but is not a full province of Pakistan due to the Kashmir territorial dispute with India. Muzaffarabad, AJK's capital, lies about 30 kilometers from the Line of Control—the de facto border dividing Kashmir between Pakistan and India.

Protests Break Out and Escalate

Although protests began in June, the seeds of the crisis were sown the previous month. In late May 2026, negotiations between JAAC and the government in Muzaffarabad collapsed over disagreements on the demand to abolish 12 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly.

These seats are reserved for Kashmiri refugees who migrated to Pakistan after 1947 and now live outside the region. JAAC argues that this arrangement allows Pakistan-based political parties to interfere in the governance of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and diverts development funds meant for the region.

On June 5, the authorities designated JAAC as a "banned organization" under the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Terrorism Act of 2014. Internet and mobile services were suspended across the region, and officials advised non-residents not to travel to AJK from June 5 to June 20, while also suggesting tourists already there leave. The AJK Supreme Court later ruled that the 12 refugee seats are constitutionally protected and cannot be abolished without a constitutional amendment.

On June 8, clashes erupted between protesters and security forces in Rawalakot and surrounding areas. Regional authorities and local media reported 11 deaths and multiple injuries, including among protesters and security personnel. Federal paramilitary forces were deployed across the region. JAAC subsequently called for a region-wide general strike, shutting down markets, schools, and public transport across most of AJK.

By mid-June, weeks of strikes, sit-ins, and ongoing clashes in Poonch division raised the death toll above 20. On July 21, the AJK Election Commission announced a revised three-phase election schedule in response to the unrest: voting on July 27 in Mirpur division, August 2 in Muzaffarabad division and the contentious 12 refugee seats, and August 10 in Poonch division.

On July 27, the first phase took place in Mirpur division, with preliminary results favoring the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The same day, thousands participated in a JAAC-led march from Rawalakot to Muzaffarabad, and deadly clashes with security forces broke out again. The second phase of voting occurred on August 2 amid boycott calls and internet restrictions.

Protesters' Demands

The protests do not seek independence for the region but oppose the reservation of 12 seats in the Pakistan-administered Kashmir legislature for refugees from India-controlled Kashmir who now live elsewhere in Pakistan. JAAC accuses Islamabad of using these seats to manipulate local politics—an allegation the federal government denies. JAAC insists that all seats in the legislative assembly should belong to people who actually reside in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, not those living in constituencies scattered across Pakistan. Experts say the crisis is part of a deeper, long-running debate about governance, political representation, resource allocation, and regional autonomy in Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

JAAC, formally the Joint Awami Action Committee of Jammu and Kashmir (JKJAAC), is a grassroots coalition of civil society groups, traders, lawyers, and activists formed in 2023 in AJK. The coalition operates collectively with multiple spokespersons, including Shaukat Nawaz Mir, Sardar Umar Nazir, Khawaja Mehran Arshad, and Sardar Aman Khan. Mir was arrested in late June after the regional government banned JAAC. Following the ban, authorities placed all four spokespersons on a wanted list, offering a 10 million Pakistani rupee (approximately $36,000) reward for information leading to their arrest.

JAAC first protested in May 2023 against high electricity prices, alleged flour smuggling, and a shortage of subsidized wheat. The movement reached its first major flashpoint in May 2024 when protesters marched on Muzaffarabad, clashing violently with security forces and leaving at least five dead, including one police officer. The protests ended after the government agreed to a series of economic concessions, seen as a major victory for JAAC. In September and October 2025, JAAC unveiled a 38-point charter of demands and launched a region-wide strike movement, prompting authorities to impose a communications blackout. This charter remains central to the current unrest, including demands for economic subsidies, investigations into alleged corruption, improved social services and infrastructure, and the abolition of the 12 reserved seats in the assembly.

The current AJK prime minister, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, belongs to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), part of the federal coalition government led by Sharif's PML-N. PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of late Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, said 35 of JAAC's 38 demands had been met, arguing that the remaining proposals were unfeasible or blocked by court rulings.

Casualties and Misinformation

Amnesty International on July 28 said at least 40 people had been killed, including 34 protesters and 6 police and paramilitary personnel, while calling for a "transparent investigation" into the use of force against protesters. Residents and local estimates suggest the death toll has exceeded 50, although officials have not confirmed this figure. Protest leaders claim more than 60 civilians have died in less than two months. According to NetBlocks, an independent watchdog, a partial internet shutdown has been in effect since June 5.

Amid the partial internet shutdown, misinformation has compounded the situation. Viral videos and images purporting to show faked protester injuries, police staging shooting, and AI-generated evidence have circulated. Verification experts at iVerify Pakistan confirmed some images as genuine while dismissing others as AI-generated or old footage. However, many claims remain difficult to verify due to restricted access and the ongoing communications blackout. Road blockades have also isolated towns, disrupting travel, work, and access to healthcare. Markets, schools, and public transport have frequently shut down during region-wide strikes, while tourism has been affected after authorities urged visitors to leave.