Azad Jammu and Kashmir

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari described the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections as the 'most significant' in the region's history, stating the outcome will determine its future. He emphasized securing self-governance, employment rights, and self-rule for AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, citing historical efforts by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, and Asif Ali Zardari to establish constitutional rights for the region.

PML-N launched its election campaign in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) with party leader Nawaz Sharif addressing supporters in Muzaffarabad. He emphasized the need for a motorway along the Jhelum River and the party announced candidates for 37 of AJK's 45 constituencies.

The Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly has unanimously demanded provisional provincial status for the region, citing cross-party and ethnic support. The resolution emphasizes constitutional rights and inclusion in the NFC Award while reaffirming Pakistan’s stance on the Kashmir dispute. Past leaders like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and recent political figures have incrementally advanced GB’s integration, but the demand for full democratic rights remains unresolved.

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections are shaping as a contest between PML-N's Nawaz Sharif and PPP's Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, with both leaders intensifying campaigns. PML-N faces criticism over its perceived role in a crackdown on JAAC protests, while PPP claims the federal government, not the AJK administration, is responsible for the unrest.

The Chenab River surged to 180,000 cusecs due to floods in Indian-occupied Kashmir, causing at least 11 deaths and prompting flood warnings for Chenab and Ravi rivers. A landslide in Azad Jammu and Kashmir's Kotli district killed a woman and two children, while the Flood Forecasting Division warned of increased flows from heavy monsoon rains and westerly waves.

Pakistan faces a three-front security challenge involving India, cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan, and internal unrest. Provinces like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan experience escalating militant attacks from groups such as Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), while Azad Jammu and Kashmir sees violent public protests. The security situation reflects expanded militant reach and political alienation in regions like Balochistan.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari addressed a rally in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) ahead of regional elections on July 27, expressing hope for forming a government and seeking better public support than in previous elections. He criticized a murder case against PPP candidate Javed Badhanvi and pledged employment opportunities and self-government rights for AJK residents.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari proposed abolishing the federal Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and enhancing constitutional empowerment for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). He emphasized greater regional representation in federal institutions, constitutional reforms via stakeholder consultations, and a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to address unrest in AJK.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari pledged to represent the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in the federal government and internationally, criticizing the current political leadership for failing to bridge the gap between AJK and the center. He proposed a truth and reconciliation commission to resolve AJK's issues and urged both the government and protesters to halt actions until the commission addresses grievances.

Political efforts in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) ahead of elections focus on engaging with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which protests against refugee seats in the legislature. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Nawaz Sharif are visiting the region to campaign, while the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) Chairman Syed Qamar Raza attempted a personal initiative to persuade JAAC leaders to abandon violence.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir Home Secretary Chaudhry Guftar Hussain accused the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) of using coordinated social media campaigns with baseless claims to incite people against the state. He highlighted JAAC's use of women and children as human shields, disruption of education and roads, and clashes in Poonch that killed two law enforcers and seven JAAC activists. The government reaffirmed its commitment to holding elections on July 27 and restoring normalcy.

PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari expressed concern over the ongoing protests and clashes in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) ahead of July 27 elections, warning that the situation could harm the Kashmir cause and Pakistan’s reputation. The tensions stem from the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) demanding the abolition of 12 Legislative Assembly seats reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to enhance coordination with provinces and Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) during the monsoon rains. The PM emphasized improving emergency preparedness, operationalizing an early warning system, and cooperating with the Ministry of Climate Change. The Pakistan Meteorological Department predicts near-normal rainfall in Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and upper Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the 2026 monsoon season.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss the country's situation and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). The meeting occurred ahead of AJK's July 27 elections, as the PPP and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) announced a joint election campaign and the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) called for protests over reserved seats.

One person was killed and several injured in clashes between protesters and law enforcement in Poonch, Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The incident occurred along a road connecting Arja and Rawalakot, where activists blocked the route and allegedly assaulted a traders’ leader. The clashes followed disputes over road blockades and a recent attack on Nasir Arbab, a traders’ leader.

AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore supports a JAAC leader's criticism of individuals misusing the platform, urging dialogue over protests. Senior JAAC leader Umar Nazir Kashmari clarifies that only core leadership statements represent the organization, distancing it from controversial speeches by activists like Sardar Aman.

Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman announced nationwide protests against the government's 'extortionary' petroleum levy, citing high taxes on petrol and diesel, misuse of climate support levy funds, and rising energy prices. The protests are scheduled for Friday, July 10, with demands for lower petrol prices and government action on energy infrastructure and regional disputes.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir Information Department Secretary Muhammad Rashid Hanif claimed state institutions have evidence of Indian funding behind the banned Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) in the region. He alleged JAAC members conducted violent activities, including road blockades and anti-Pakistan rhetoric, while promoting an independent Kashmir agenda.

Clashes between protesters and law enforcement were reported in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) following demonstrations organized by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). Injuries were reported in Mirpur district, while internet services remained suspended for 30 days. Some protests in other areas, including Khaliqabad and Islamgarh, remained peaceful.

Government officials in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have dismissed rumors of long marches by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), confirming smaller demonstrations at protest sites. The Poonch administration recommended disciplinary action against 70+ officials for participating in sit-ins, while the AJK police denied claims of attacking protesters.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reviewed the law and order situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) after month-long protests by the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). The intensity of protests has subsided, with ongoing demonstrations in Rawalakot and calm in Muzaffarabad. The PM emphasized prioritizing public service and resolving issues.

PTI announced a boycott of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) general election, citing political and social unrest, government use of force, and economic distress caused by suspended food supplies. The party emphasized a principled stance to align with public aspirations and demanded resolution of grievances before participating in elections.

Former Azad Jammu and Kashmir prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas resigned from PPP following disagreements over party ticket distribution. He submitted nomination papers for three constituencies, but the party assigned candidates to LA-15 and LA-22, conflicting with his preferences. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari finalized tickets without him, and Agriculture Minister Ali Shan Soni also resigned from the party.

PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan stated the party is not engaging in talks with the government and has not decided to boycott upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections. He emphasized the need for political solutions to resolve issues and criticized the removal of PTI's election symbol in certain regions.

PPP and Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (JUI-F) announced an electoral alliance to contest the July 27 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) general elections. The decision followed a meeting between PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and JUI-F leader Maulana Fazlur Rehman, emphasizing peaceful democratic resolution of AJK issues and coalition governance in multiple regions.

Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas filed a privilege motion against Bhara Kahu SHO Sub-inspector Naeemul Hassan for allegedly stopping him from proceeding to his residence in a 'rude and discourteous' manner. The incident occurred after a delegation of opposition leaders, including Mehmood Khan Achakzai, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, and Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, was prevented from traveling to Azad Jammu and Kashmir to express solidarity with protesters.

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly passed a Rs286 billion budget for FY2026-27, allocating Rs250 billion for recurring expenditure and Rs36 billion for development. The budget includes Rs26.28 billion for ongoing projects and Rs8.71 billion for new schemes, with funding sourced from federal taxes, income tax, and development grants.

Jamaat-i-Islami Pakistan (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman urged the government to resolve the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) crisis through dialogue, avoiding force and engaging with the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). JI emphasized mediation to prevent unrest and warned against actions that could benefit India's propaganda on the Kashmir issue.

The Ministry of Interior ordered immediate arrests of Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan without valid visas starting July 10, 2026, following a June 1, 2026, meeting on the Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan (IFRP). Provincial and administrative bodies were instructed to prioritize repatriation and provide daily reports on enforcement actions from July 11.

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake from Afghanistan's Hindu Kush region caused tremors across Pakistan, while two quakes in Balochistan damaged homes and injured 18-19 people. The National Disaster Management Authority reported no fatalities, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed rescue operations.

AJK police chief Liaqat Ali Malik warned against disinformation and AI-generated content, confirming open entry points for traffic and denying reports of transport restrictions. He accused JAAC activists of erecting barriers and disrupting goods transport, while urging media to verify reports with official sources.

The chairman of Pakistan's Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir requested a meeting with opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai to discuss the political situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), focusing on disputes over the 12 refugee seats in its Legislative Assembly. The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) opposes these seats, leading to tensions with regional authorities ahead of July 27 elections.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) listed 147 activists and supporters of the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) on the Fourth Schedule of the Anti-Terrorism Act. A standoff between JAAC protesters and law enforcement in Rawalakot continued, with a region-wide strike entering its 11th day and disrupting daily life in Poonch and Muzaffarabad divisions.

Nawaz Sharif urged Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) protesters to end sit-ins and engage in dialogue with the government, emphasizing constitutional rights and the need for peace ahead of upcoming elections. The PML-N leader highlighted tensions over refugee seats, inflation, and electricity tariffs, calling for collective efforts to resolve the situation.

The JAAC protest in Rawalakot has visibly decreased, with most participants leaving, while a shutter-down strike continues across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) for seven days. Authorities eased curfew restrictions in parts of Rawalakot but internet outages disrupted banking, and mobile vendors began operating in some areas. The AJK Legislative Assembly is set to meet to discuss employee regularization and other resolutions.

The PPP urges protesters in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to end demonstrations, citing harm to Pakistan’s international reputation and the Kashmir cause. The party’s AJK wing calls for withdrawing the election schedule amid clashes that killed two people in Rawalakot, while the PML-N insists on proceeding with elections. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari emphasizes resolving grievances through democratic means and highlights a pending US-Iran peace agreement mediated by Pakistan.

PPP-AJK urged the election commission to withdraw the polling schedule for 12 refugee seats in Azad Jammu and Kashmir amid unrest, citing the need for dialogue to address protests by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) against the reservation of these seats for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari urged protesters in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to end demonstrations, stating the unrest harms Pakistan's reputation and the Kashmiri cause. He emphasized resolving political disputes through democratic means and highlighted the importance of Pakistan's role in a U.S.-Iran peace pact amid global attention.

Partial strikes and sit-ins by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) continue in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), with authorities seizing businesses and conducting raids. An internet outage affecting students and freelancers enters its eighth day, and former AJK president Sardar Yaqoob Khan urges the committee to end the agitation unconditionally.

The Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) demands abolishing 12 reserved seats for Kashmiri refugees in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK)'s legislative assembly, but the AJK Supreme Court ruled these seats, protected under Article 22 of the AJK Interim Constitution 1974, cannot be removed without a constitutional amendment under Article 33. The article argues abolishing the seats would violate constitutional rights and the principle of equality for Kashmiri refugees, who are recognized as 'state subjects' under the constitution.