AJK laws tweaked to facilitate refugee voting

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has promulgated the AJK Elections (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, introducing changes to the electoral law aimed at facilitating refugee voters and extending the scope of political party restrictions in line with laws applicable in Pakistan.

According to the ordinance, which surfaced on Sunday, after approval by acting president Chaudhry Latif Akbar, amendments have been made to the AJK Elections Act, 2020.

Under the amendment to Section 24, the post-1989 refugees from occupied Jammu and Kashmir who have shifted between refugee camps or changed their place of residence within AJK will now be entitled to enrol at their new place of residence and cast their vote accordingly.

Move extends scope of party restrictions in line with laws applicable in Pakistan

The ordinance also empowers the AJK Election Commission to issue necessary directions, prescribe procedures, prepare supplementary electoral rolls, and take any other steps deemed appropriate to implement the provision.

In a separate amendment to Section 126, the ordinance provides that if a political party is banned, dissolved or prohibited under the laws of Pakistan, then such a party, along with its branches, organisational extensions, affiliated entities or regional units acting on its behalf, shall also stand prohibited in AJK.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2026