• Maryam shares video of green buses reaching AJK
• PPP alleges code of conduct violations by rivals
• Election commissioner warns against new schemes, reviews election preparations
• 2,316 polling stations set up across division
• MQM-P withdraws candidates in PML-N’s favour
MUZAFFARABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and its coalition partner at the Centre, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), are set to face off in the Mirpur Division elections on Monday, as electioneering ended at midnight amid allegations of pre-poll rigging by the PPP and a warning from the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission that no individual or institution would be allowed to violate the election code of conduct.
The Election Commission on Saturday reiterated that no individual or institution would be allowed to violate the election code of conduct, amid a controversy over development promises made during the election campaign.
Although the commission’s statement did not name any individual or political party, it came after ex-PM Nawaz Sharif and Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz, while addressing election rallies in Muzaffarabad and Mirpur, promised electric buses and mobile hospitals.
The announcements prompted the PPP to approach the Election Commission, urging it to take notice of what it described as blatant violations of the election code of conduct and election laws.
In a related political development, MQM-P announced its support for PML-N candidates in the AJK elections by withdrawing its own candidates.
The announcement came after the PML-N delegation, led by its Sindh President Bashir Memon and Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Kheal Das Kohistani, met MQM-P leaders at the party’s Bahadurabad headquarters in Karachi.
Speaking to reporters afterwards, MQM-P leader Dr Farooq Sattar said his party’s candidates contesting from various constituencies, including seats reserved for refugees, would withdraw in favour of PML-N nominees. He said a PML-N victory in the Azad Kashmir elections would also be a victory for the MQM-P.
An Election Commission spokesperson said federal and provincial ministers were free to participate in electioneering in AJK but could not use official protocol, government resources or the state machinery for electoral purposes.
“The announcement of any new development scheme, financial package, public facility or welfare project during the election campaign will amount to a violation of the code of conduct. Any vehicles, equipment, relief goods or other facilities sent by the federal or provincial governments during the election period will be confiscated and action taken in accordance with the law,” he said.
The spokesperson urged all ministers, candidates and political parties to strictly observe the code of conduct to ensure free, fair and transparent elections and maintain public confidence in the electoral process.
Earlier on Saturday afternoon, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz confirmed that the green buses had reached Muzaffarabad, sharing a video showing several of the vehicles carrying posters featuring her portrait alongside local PML-N leaders.
The controversy had escalated a day earlier when PPP Secretary General Nayyar Hussain Bukhari met Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal and sought action over the transfer of 10 electric buses bearing Ms Nawaz’s picture to the AJK administration.
“The Punjab government’s move of handing over electric buses featuring Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s photos to the AJK government is political bribery,” Mr Bukhari had said.
In a post on the party’s X account on Saturday, Mr Bukhari said he had also sought a no-objection certificate from the commission to launch a “motivation service” in AJK as part of the party’s manifesto and election campaign. He did not elaborate on the nature of the proposed service.
Mr Bukhari at a press conference in Muzaffarabad reiterated his party’s concerns over the alleged violations of the election code of conduct. He demanded an immediate ban on the participation of federal ministers and the Punjab chief minister in the election campaign and urged the Election Commission to ensure strict enforcement of the code.
He maintained that while the PPP was not opposed to providing public facilities, it could not help but ask why such initiatives were being announced only during the election campaign. “If the Punjab government genuinely wished to extend such facilities to AJK, it could have done so before the announcement of the election schedule or after the polls,” he said.
He said the Election Commission should take immediate notice of the matter; otherwise, the code of conduct would lose its credibility.
Around the same time, PPP Central Information Secretary Shazia Marri posted a statement on X, saying Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari was striving for “a bright and empowered future” for the people of Kashmir.
She said the PPP chairman had raised the slogans of the right to rule, right to property and right to employment for Kashmiris, adding: “This is not a crime.”
Ms Marri asked the PML-N to present its programme for Kashmir instead of attacking its political opponents.
CEC chairs meeting
Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal chaired a meeting in Mirpur to review preparations for the 2026 general elections.
The meeting was attended by Election Commission Secretary Raja Muhammad Shakeel, District Returning Officers Jahangir Ahmed Jaral (Mirpur), Muhammad Idrees Bhatti (Kotli) and Hafiz Sardar Muhammad Akram Khan (Bhimber), returning officers, Mirpur Divisional Commissioner Raja Tahir Mumtaz, Deputy Inspector General of Police Kamran Ali, and others.
After the DROs briefed the meeting on election arrangements in their respective districts, Commissioner Mumtaz said all preparations for the elections had been finalised across the three districts of Mirpur Division.
He said the division had 1,400,437 registered voters, comprising 724,811 men and 675,626 women.
A total of 2,316 polling stations had been established, including 1,241 declared highly sensitive, 724 sensitive and 351 normal.
He said LA-3 (Mirpur City) had the highest number of contestants, with 34 candidates, while 288 candidates were contesting elections across the division’s 13 constituencies.
To oversee polling and security arrangements, the administration had established 13 zones and 205 sectors across the division, with enhanced security measures at sensitive and highly sensitive polling stations.
DIG Ali told the meeting that 18,560 personnel from the police and other law enforcement agencies would be deployed across Mirpur Division for security.
The deployment includes 5,536 personnel in Mirpur district, 4,504 in Bhimber and 8,520 in Kotli. He said a three-tier security plan had been devised under which the police would serve as the first tier, civil armed forces as the second, and the Pakistan Army as the third.
The second tier would comprise personnel from the Pakistan Rangers (Punjab), Pakistan Rangers (Sindh) and the Federal Constabulary, while 2,100 Pakistan Army troops would also be deployed to assist with election security.
The DIG said all security forces would perform their duties under an integrated security plan on polling day, July 27.
Meanwhile, AJK Secretary Information Muhammad Rashid Hanif and Director Information Tariq Jamil Durrani urged journalists and media organisations to ensure responsible, impartial and professional coverage of the elections.
Published in Dawn, July 26th, 2026
Dawn – Homenone@none.com (Tariq Naqash)Read More