Elections in 7 Pakistan-administered Kashmir constituencies postponed over security fears

Voting for seven of the 11 constituencies scheduled for the third phase of elections in Pakistan-administered Kashmir (PoK) has been postponed indefinitely due to concerns about the law-and-order situation, officials announced on Friday (August 7, 2026).

The elections, which have seen violent protests and allegations of rigging in earlier rounds, were due to continue on Monday (August 10) across 11 constituencies in the Poonch Division. The region is part of the broader Kashmir dispute, with India maintaining that the entire territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are its integral parts and describing Pakistan's control over parts of these territories as illegal.

The PoK Election Commission said in a statement: “The electoral process in seven constituencies of Poonch district and Sudhnoti’s Pallandri will not be held on August 10.” However, polling for three constituencies in Bagh district and one in Haveli will proceed as scheduled.

The postponement decision was based on a report from the home secretary “that shows concerns over the law-and-order situation in some areas of Poonch district and Pallandri district.” The commission added that it had received requests from political personalities and candidates from these districts to delay the polls given the current situation. “We will announce the new polling dates and a revised election schedule for Poonch and Pallandri after reviewing the situation and considering all relevant matters,” the statement said.

The elections are being held for the so-called Kashmir Legislative Assembly, which has 53 seats total – 45 directly elected and eight reserved for women, technocrats and clerics. The first two phases, held on July 27 and August 2 respectively, were marred by violence. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) won both phases, capturing 24 seats so far, while the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) won nine seats.

The August 2 phase included 12 refugee seats that have been a focus of controversy and protests. The banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has alleged that the establishment manipulates these seats to install a prime minister of its choosing. JAAC claims more than 40 people were killed during the first phase of polls and over 400 protesters have died since the first week of June.

India has criticised the elections, with Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal calling them “a complete farce” and saying such “hollow” exercises cannot hide the ground reality. He also condemned Pakistan's crackdown on protesters and urged the international community to see through what he described as the “flimsy veneer” of Islamabad's “hypocritical lecturing” on human rights.