MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission Saturday issued a fresh election schedule for LA-24 Poonch-Sudhnoti-7 (Baloch) following the death of an independent candidate Zahid Yasin.
Previously nominated candidates, however, will not refile papers, while the election commission will announce a new polling date later.
According to an AJK Election Commission spokesperson, the returning officer (RO) has terminated the election proceedings in the constituency under Section 45 of the AJK Election Act, 2020, after receiving a report regarding the candidate’s death.
Fresh election schedule
In accordance with the law, a fresh election schedule has now been announced while the date for polling will be announced later.
Under the revised schedule, candidates may submit their nomination papers to the RO at the district headquarters in Pallandri until July 21.
The scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted on July 22 from 8am to 12pm after which the provisional list of validly nominated candidates will be published.
Appeals against the RO’s decisions may be filed with the Election Commission between July 23 and July 26 until 2pm.
The commission will hear the appeals on July 28 and announce its decisions the same day.
Candidates may withdraw their nomination papers by 2pm on July 29, following which the final list of contesting candidates will be published. Election symbols will be allotted on July 30 and the final list of candidates along with their allotted symbols will be issued the same day.
The spokesperson clarified that candidates who had already submitted their nomination papers will not be required to file fresh nomination papers.
The Election Commission will announce the new date for polling in the constituency separately through a notification.
