Muzaffarabad, Pakistan-administered Kashmir: The capital city is draped in election banners, but beneath the surface lies a deep crisis. Since early June, weeks of protests and sit-ins have killed dozens, forcing authorities to split the July 27 provincial election into three separate days.

Voting in Mirpur division will proceed on July 27, while Poonch division, the epicenter of unrest, will vote on August 10. Muzaffarabad and 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees living in Pakistan will vote on August 2. Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal cited security concerns for the change.

The protests are led by the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which demands the abolition of 12 reserved seats for refugees, arguing they give outsiders undue influence. In June, the AJK government banned JAAC under anti-terrorism laws and arrested its leader, Shaukat Nawaz Mir.

The unrest has left nearly 30 dead, with Poonch division largely cut off from supplies and internet services suspended across the territory. The Election Commission insists the process is on track, but JAAC calls for a boycott, and many residents say they will not vote.

Political analysts question the election's legitimacy. Zulfiqar Ali notes that while people may vote, their anger remains unresolved. Ershad Mahmud argues that with two major political forces – PTI and JAAC – absent from the ballot, the election cannot be seen as legitimate.

Source: www.aljazeera.com