MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Nomination papers for the reserved seats of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly are being filed today in Muzaffarabad, with candidates from different political parties submitting their papers alongside party leaders and supporters.
Political activity has intensified as a close contest is expected between candidates of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for the reserved seats.
The reserved seats include five seats for women, along with one seat each for clerics and scholars, overseas Kashmiris and technocrats.
According to the Election Commission’s schedule, the final list of candidates will be published on August 23, while polling will take place on August 24 inside the AJK Legislative Assembly.
Unlike general seats, the general public will not vote directly for reserved seats. Instead, elected members of the AJK Legislative Assembly will cast their votes.
The results are expected to clarify the parliamentary strength of various political parties in the AJK Assembly and could prove significant for government formation and future political developments.
Earlier, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Wednesday issued a list of candidates for reserved seats in the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly.
The party issued tickets for four of the five seats reserved for women, and one seat each reserved for technocrats and other professionals, Ulema-e-Din or Mushaikh, and Jammu & Kashmir State Subjects residing abroad (Overseas).
The party notification stated that the candidates were approved on the recommendation of the PML-N Parliamentary Board.
Mariam Zaman Kashmiri, Maryam Adrees, Sehrish Qamar, and Rifat Abid are given party tickets for the seats reserved for Women.
Similarly, tickets were issued to Chaudhry Abdul Rehman for the Overseas Kashmiri seat, Barrister Iftikhar Ali Gilani for the Technocrat seat, and Pir Muhammad Mazhar Saeed for the Ulema-e-Din or Mushaikh seat.
Schedule for reserved seats polls
Last week, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Election Commission said that polling for eight reserved seats will take place on August 24 from 10 am to 1 pm at the AJK Assembly Hall, Muzaffarabad.
According to the schedule, submission of nomination papers, scrutiny, and publication of candidate lists will be completed by August 20, while appeals against nomination papers could be filed on August 2, and the same would be heard and decided on August 22.
On August 23, candidates could withdraw their nominations, and the final list would be published the same day.
Following the conclusion of the reserved seat elections on August 24, the vote for the new Speaker and Deputy Speaker is expected on August 25.
This will be followed by the election of the new Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on August 27, leading up to the subsequent swearing-in ceremony.
