ISLAMABAD: At least two people were killed and seven others injured in a clash between activists of rival parties in Azad Kashmir on Sunday, a federal minister said, as polling ended to elect the region’s new state assembly.
Over 3 million registered voters took part in the election to choose 53 legislators in the Pakistan-administered part of Kashmiri territory on Sunday. Before it even started, the election, held under tight security, was marred by accusations of poll rigging and clashes.
The party workers who lost their lives were from the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, federal minister for Kashmir affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan, said in a statement.
“Two PTI activists have laid down their lives so far. The seven workers of PTI have sustained injuries in different incidents,” Gandapur said.x
He accused the rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) for violent attacks on PTI workers
“People of Azad Kashmir are fully supporting PTI,” he said.
In a separate incident, five police constables were injured after Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) activists attacked them with batons at a polling station in Jhelum valley.
After the clashes and violence, voting at some polling stations was suspended.
Polling ended at 5 p.m. and vote counting is underway.
Polling closes in violence-marred legislative elections in Pakistan’s Azad Kashmir
https://arab.news/bcf26
Polling closes in violence-marred legislative elections in Pakistan’s Azad Kashmir
- Two Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party workers lost their lives in election violence
- Election, held under tight security, was marred by accusations of poll rigging and clashes
Pakistan forms committee to negotiate financial advisory services for Islamabad airport privatization
- Committee to engage Asian Development Bank to negotiate terms of financial advisory services agreement, says privatization ministry
- Inaugurated in 2018, Islamabad airport has faced criticism over construction delays, poor facilities and operational inefficiencies
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Privatization Ministry announced on Wednesday that it has formed a committee to engage the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to negotiate a potential financial advisory services agreement for the privatization of Islamabad International Airport.
The Islamabad International Airport, inaugurated in 2018 at a cost of over $1 billion, has faced criticism over construction delays, poor facilities, and operational inefficiencies.
The Negotiation Committee formed by the Privatization Commission will engage with the ADB to negotiate the terms of a potential Financial Advisory Services Agreement (FASA) for the airport’s privatization, the ministry said.
“The Negotiation Committee has been mandated to undertake negotiations and submit its recommendations to the Board for consideration and approval, in line with the applicable regulatory framework,” the Privatization Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said Islamabad airport operations will be outsourced under a concession model through an open and competitive process to enhance its operational efficiency and improve service delivery standards.
Pakistan has recently sought to privatize or outsource management of several state-run enterprises under conditions agreed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as part of a $7 billion bailout approved in September last year.
Islamabad hopes outsourcing airport operations will bring operational expertise, enhance passenger experience and restore confidence in the aviation sector.
In December 2025, Pakistan’s government successfully privatized its national flag carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), selling 75 percent of its stakes to a consortium led by the Arif Habib Group.
The group secured a 75 percent stake in the PIA for Rs135 billion ($482 million) after several rounds of bidding, valuing the airline at Rs180 billion ($643 million).
Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said this week the government has handed over 26 state-owned enterprises to the Privatization Commission.
