Muzaffarabad (Lord Media): The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) High Court has reinstated the registration of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), nullifying the Election Commission’s decision. The larger bench, led by Chief Justice Shahid Bahar, ordered the restoration of PTI’s registration and allocation of its electoral symbol.
According to the court’s order, PTI candidates will contest the upcoming elections with the ‘bat’ symbol. Previously, the Election Commission had cancelled PTI AJK’s registration, prompting former AJK Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi to file a petition in the high court.
The court, after completing the hearing, issued a brief order providing relief to PTI, with a detailed judgment expected later.
The nomination process for the AJK Legislative Assembly elections 2026 has concluded, with 1,265 candidates submitting papers for 45 constituencies.
According to the Election Commission, 1,047 nomination papers were submitted from 33 constituencies in AJK, while 218 candidates filed from 12 seats reserved for refugees residing in Pakistan.
Candidates can withdraw their nomination papers until July 3, with the final list of candidates to be released on July 4, and election symbols allocated on July 5. The election campaign is expected to intensify further.
