Elections for seven reserved seats in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly are being held today, August 24, moving the region closer to the formation of its next government following a prolonged multi-phase election.

The 53-member assembly consists of 45 directly elected lawmakers and eight members chosen for reserved seats. These include five seats for women and one each for religious scholars, overseas AJK residents and technocrats or other professionals.

One reserved seat has already been decided. PML-N candidate Chaudhry Abdul Rehman Arain was elected unopposed to the seat representing AJK state subjects living abroad, leaving seven seats to be contested today.

The election is taking place before all 45 directly elected constituencies have completed polling. Elections remain pending in seven constituencies across Poonch and Sudhnoti because of law-and-order concerns. As a result, the 38 lawmakers elected so far will participate in the reserved-seat vote.

PML-N currently holds 25 of those directly elected seats, compared with 12 for PPP. The sole elected member of the Awami Dast-o-Bazu party has also aligned with PML-N, strengthening the party’s position ahead of government formation.

Six candidates are competing for the five women’s seats, while PML-N and PPP candidates are facing each other for the Ulema and Mashaikh seat and the technocrats and professionals seat.

The incoming assembly’s inaugural session is scheduled for 2pm today, when newly elected members are expected to take their oaths following the announcement of the reserved-seat results.

The process comes amid continuing political tensions over the wider AJK election. PPP has alleged widespread irregularities, while PML-N has emerged as the largest party from the constituencies decided so far.

Today’s reserved-seat results will further clarify the balance of power as AJK moves toward choosing its new legislative leadership and government.