Muzaffarabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir: AJK election preparations have intensified after election authorities received 518 nomination papers for the 2026 general elections, officials said.
The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission said the number was higher than submissions recorded during the 2021 polls.
Election Commission Secretary Raja Shakeel Khan said nomination papers continued to arrive from all constituencies, including refugee seats and the Rawalakot division, until June 23.
He said the commission had received papers from across Azad Jammu and Kashmir, including Mirpur, Poonch and Rawalakot divisions.
According to the secretary, candidates submitted 114 nomination papers for reserved refugee seats. He said the commission also received 130 nomination papers from seven constituencies of the Poonch division.
Read: AJK Election Act Amended to Bar Banned Parties
Officials said the high number of candidates showed strong public and political participation in the electoral process.
Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal said polling stations with more than 500 registered voters would be provided with two polling booths.
He said the extra booths would help facilitate voting at busier stations. Officials said the participation trend reflected growing public confidence in the democratic process.
The AJK election preparations are continuing as the commission moves through the nomination phase for the 2026 polls.
