Opposition parties have said the lists have been manipulated to benefit Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

On Wednesday, the Indian Express newspaper said two election commissioners had raised questions or expressed concern at least 14 times in 10 months — mostly in connection with the process of updating voter lists that began last year — with Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The report sparked a political furore, with opposition parties launching a fresh attack on the election commission that they have accused of being biased. The panel has denied these claims.

On Thursday, the main opposition Congress Party announced protest marches on all state election offices across India on Friday, demanding Kumar’s arrest, his removal from office and an independent review of all decisions and voter-list changes made under him.

The Election Commission of India has said that differences between election commissioners were normal for any institution and that all its actions were lawful. It did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters.

“If Gyanesh Kumar does not resign within 48 hours, the Cockroach Janta Party will start a nationwide agitation … we will not back down without Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation,” said Abhijeet Dipke, who founded the self-named movement, at a press conference.

Differences are normal, poll panel says

The Cockroach Janta Party is fresh off its successful youth demonstrations in July, which led to the resignation of Modi’s education minister over exam-paper leaks — one of Modi’s biggest political setbacks since he came to power in 2014.

“Differing views and observations are a normal part of deliberation in any institution,” the panel said in a statement on Wednesday following the newspaper report. “They are a part of the decision-making process before a final decision is taken.”

Kumar is one of three election commissioners and is the chief as he is the most senior.

Election commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi — who the newspaper said had questioned and differed with Kumar — did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.

Opposition parties have criticised the conduct of the panel in recent years, alleging that names of millions of voters were deleted without warning and that new voters were added without verification to favour the BJP.

The BJP has defended the poll panel and said opposition parties had launched a smear campaign because they were regularly losing elections.

“Neither the Election Commission of India nor any constitutional body in India is under dictatorial rule … they are functioning democratically,” BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said at a media briefing on Wednesday.

AJK Chief Justice Raja Saeed Akram administered the oath to Dr Naqi at a ceremony held at the President’s House in Muzaffarabad.

He had secured 32 votes in the election held at the AJK Legislative Assembly’s Secretariat earlier in the day, while PPP’s Chaudhry Latif Akbar secured 13 votes. Polling began at 11am and concluded at 1pm.

Under the AJK Constitution, the president is elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly by a majority of the total 53 members.

Since elections to seven seats of Poonch and Sudhnoti districts have not been held due to the law and order situation, the current strength of the assembly is 46.

Forty-five of the 46 lawmakers cast their votes to elect the president on Thursday, with one PPP lawmaker being absent.

After the results were announced, people who had come from Poonch and other areas gathered outside the assembly and raised slogans.

In his brief address to the gathering, Dr Naqi said Poonch — the AJK division from where he hails — was facing a difficult situation and expressed hope that “with full determination and effort”, the area would overcome its difficulties and return to the path of development.

He thanked the people for coming from far-off places despite difficulties on the way and said he would make every effort to meet the expectations of the people of Azad Kashmir.

“I will do my best to ensure that the new government of Azad Kashmir lives up to the expectations of its people,” he said, thanking his audience once again and saying that he would continue to meet them in the future.

Dr Naqi has previously served as AJK health minister. He has also held the portfolios of education and information technology. Dr Naqi was set to contest the 2026 polls. However, elections in seven constituencies of Poonch division, including his own, were put on hold due to the law and order situation in the region.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Dr Naqi on his victory and conveyed his best wishes, according to a statement issued by his office.

“Dr Najeeb Naqi’s election reflects the confidence of the people of AJK,” PM Shehbaz was quoted as saying. The premier, in his message to Dr Naqi, expressed hope that he would fulfil his responsibilities effectively and play a constructive role in the development, prosperity and welfare of the people of AJK.

PM Shehbaz also reaffirmed that the federal government will extend its full cooperation to AJK, the statement added.

The office of the AJK president has remained vacant since January this year following the death of Barrister Sultan Mahmood. Previously, then-Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar was serving as the acting president. The role was then assumed by incumbent Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq after being elected speaker on Aug 25.

‘Breeze of fresh air’

Following the announcement of the results at the legislative assembly session on Thursday, Leader of the Opposition Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin was the first to take the floor and congratulate Dr Naqi.

However, he reiterated the PPP’s allegations that the recent elections held in AJK had been rigged and regretted that the new government was taking decisions based on “political vengeance”.

Former prime minister Raja Farooq Haider then took the floor and dismissed Yasin’s allegations. Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq suggested the allegations should be left for another occasion, saying that the day’s speeches should focus on the presidential election. He offered the floor to any other opposition lawmaker wishing to speak.

However, when no one else showed interest, he gave the floor to Leader of the House and Prime Minister Iftikhar Gillani.

Gillani congratulated Dr Naqi, his party’s central leadership and the people of Poonch on his election. Describing Naqi as a “noble person,” he said his election had sent a “breeze of fresh air” to Poonch division.

Gillani called for strengthening the legislature and said the government was committed to working through the assembly.

He also denied allegations that any package approved by the previous PPP government was shelved or overturned. He said the cabinet only had decided to review the education package after objections were raised over some of its provisions.

He assured the opposition that its due share and role would never be undermined.

Before adjourning the session, Speaker Farooq also greeted Dr Naqi and expressed hope that with him in office, AJK would see an improved governance system.

The upgradation agreements were signed under the Brownfield Petroleum Refining Policy 2026, which was approved in the last week of July after a deadlock spanning over seven years.

The formal agreements were signed by the managements of four refineries — Attock Refinery, National Refinery, Pakistan Refinery and Cnergyico Petroleum. They were also signed by the Inter State Gas Company (ISGC), a subsidiary of the petroleum division and a designated entity to execute the agreements and monitor the implementation process.

Informed sources said the fifth local refinery, the Pak Arab Refinery (Parco) — a joint venture of Pakistan and Abu Dhabi — was not yet ready for the new upgrade, as it believed its technology to be modern.

However, if and when it signs the upgradation agreements as well, the investment volume is expected to reach $6bn.

The chairman of the Energy Committee of the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI) and the CEO of Attock Refinery, Adil Khattak, welcomed the signing of the upgradation agreements.

He termed it a historic milestone for the country’s refining industry to begin tangible work on “arguably the largest coordinated industrial investment programme ever undertaken in Pakistan”.

“These projects will fundamentally modernise Pakistan’s refining infrastructure, enable production of cleaner Euro-V fuels, substantially reduce furnace oil production, replace significant quantities of imported petroleum products and strengthen the country’s energy security,” Khattak said.

He recalled that the journey began with the first draft of the Refining Policy in December 2019, followed by its approval in August 2023 and subsequent amendments before finally reaching implementation today — almost seven years later.

“The delay has come at a considerable cost. Industry estimates indicate that refinery upgradation could save Pakistan around $1.5bn annually in foreign exchange,” he said.

The Attack Refinery CEO noted that recent geopolitical developments had reinforced something that the refining industry had emphasised for years. This meant domestic refining capacity was not merely a commercial consideration but a strategic national asset, he said.

Khattak added that the journey ahead would be even more challenging as the five refineries translated their commitments into financing, engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the complex projects within the stipulated five-year period.

The new policy was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Energy, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on July 28.

Alongside tax incentives and stability clauses to protect investment, it provides for foreign exchange accounts for imports of machinery against the export of furnace oil, and enhances onshore and offshore storage for greater energy security.

How will it work?

Under the policy, which now supersedes all previous refining policies, the existing refineries have to improve product quality, quantity and product mix through upgradation.

As such, the total production of motor spirit (petrol) and high-speed diesel (HSD) will significantly improve, while that of furnace oil is reduced.

As such, total petrol production would increase by 72pc to 18,400 tonnes per day (TPD) from 10,700 TPD. HSD output would rise by 39pc to 29,520 TPD from the current 21,240 TPD, while furnace oil production would drop by 63pc to 5,714 TPD from 15,417 TPD.

All existing refineries would upgrade, modernise and expand their refineries to produce environmentally friendly fuels as per Euro-V specifications.

Euro V standards permit only 10 parts per million (ppm) of sulphur in gasoline and diesel. Euro IV allows 50 ppm while Euro III allows 150 ppm in gasoline and 350 ppm in diesel.

Refineries are also to maximise production of motor gasoline, diesel or other value-added products, if any, by minimising furnace oil and other fuels. In return, they would be entitled to policy incentives.

Under the fiscal regime, there is to be a minimum customs duty or regulatory duty of 10 per cent for a period of seven years on motor gasoline and diesel imported into the country.

Any customs duty imposed over 10pc and reflected in the ex-refinery price will be deposited in the Inland Freight Equalisation Margin (IFEM) pool. In case any refinery is not eligible to avail the incentives provided in this policy, it will be bound to deposit the same in IFEM.

Customs duty on crude oil will be reimbursed to refineries through IFEM. The refineries will be allowed 10pc tariff protection or deemed duty applicable on motor gasoline and diesel’s ex-refinery price for seven years from the date of signing of the agreement, and opening of the joint Escrow Account with the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) within 90 days of notification of the amendments in the policy.

However, 2.5pc of the deemed duty on diesel and a 10pc incremental incentive on motor gasoline is to be deposited by refineries in the Escrow Account maintained by Ogra and the respective refinery jointly in the National Bank of Pakistan, specifically to be utilised for upgradation projects.

Until the opening of the said account, the incremental incentive shall be deposited in the IFEM. The prevailing 7.5pc deemed duty on HSD for sustainability shall continue after the seven-year incentive period for 20 years or till deregulation, whichever is earlier.

Due to the exempt status of petroleum products, any disallowed sales tax related to refinery operations, confirmed by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), shall continue to be reimbursed through IFEM for FY26 until the validity of upgrade agreements to be executed under the amended policy. Equipment to be installed or material to be used in the upgradation project will be exempted from sales tax.

After upgradation, the refineries would be required to ensure crude stocks of at least 14 days’ equivalent of their capacity at all times. Refineries relying on the import of crude oil will ensure an additional five days cover at sea at all times.

Refineries will be allowed to sell their products to any oil-marketing company (OMC) licensed by Ogra, as well as to export surplus petroleum products with respect to domestic demand subject to the authority’s approval.

There will be binding agreements between the refineries and OMCs for sale and purchase of major products (motor gasoline and HSD) based on product review meetings to ensure a smooth oil supply chain.

The petroleum division is to notify Euro-V fuel specifications for compliance after the upgrading of the refineries within one month of the agreement signing.

In 2020, the state-owned Pakistan State Oil (PSO) became the first OMC to upgrade the fuel standard to Euro-V. The petroleum ministry had noted then that Euro-V standard fuels reduce harmful vehicle emissions by massively cutting down Sulphur and Benzene content.

According to the senior official, CTD had received information about the presence of terrorists in the Garhi Sherdad area near Warsak Road, following which the authorities planned an operation against them.

“The moment the CTD team reached the area, the terrorists opened fire at the raiding party,” the official said.

“A cop embraced martyrdom while two others were injured,” he confirmed, adding that one terrorist had also been gunned down.

The official further said that an exchange of fire was underway as of Thursday afternoon, with other law enforcement agencies (LEAs) also on the spot and the area cordoned off.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed an increase in terrorist activity in recent months, with LEAs and security forces being targeted, prompting authorities to intensify counterterrorism operations.

Earlier this month, five terrorists were killed in an exchange of fire with CTD of police in Shamshatoo area on the border between Peshawar and Nowshera districts.

Among them was a key commander of the banned ISKP, identified as Imran alias Abdullah alias Bilal alias Abu Bakar, police said.

It added that Imran was a proclaimed offender wanted by CTD as he was involved in a total of 20 cases of bomb blasts, targeted killings of police personnel and political leaders, and other acts of terrorism in Islamabad and other parts of the country.

A week before that, four terrorists, including a militant commander and an Afghan national, were killed in an encounter with CTD in Peshawar’s Badhber area.

A statement issued by CTD said that earlier, militant commander Tahir alias Muawiya, a resident of Shakas in Khyber tribal district, along with his other associates, was seen roaming the area to challenge the writ of the government.