AJK cancels registration of 33 political parties before elections

MUZAFFARABAD: The Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has cancelled the registration of 33 out 42 political parties, ahead of the 2026 general election.

The commission said, this move was taken after the parties failed to fulfill the conditions under the new rules… as directed by the Supreme Court and the Election Act 2020.

Among the registered parties that were affected are Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference, Jamaat-e-Islami , Jammu and Kashmir People’s Party (JKPP), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation League , Sad-e-Haq Party , Jamaat-e-Falah-e-Insaniyat , and Markazi Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadeeth.

The electoral body added that the parties were already informed about the updated registration needs. These included, submitting a registration fee of Rs200,000 certified copies of identity cards of at least 2,000 executive council and party members, audit reports, affidavits, financial particulars, and organizational records too.

It is also worth noting that the registration application of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Azad Kashmir, had been rejected earlier over financial irregularities and violations linked to audit rules, on May 16.

Other major parties , whose registrations were either cancelled or remained pending because of non-compliance , are Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Jammu and Kashmir, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) , Awami National Party (ANP), Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), Tehreek-e-Jafaria, Wahdat Muslimeen, Aam Aadmi Party, and a number of other regional or religious groups .