PPP announces candidates for AJK elections

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Sunday announced its candidates for the July 27 elections to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly, fielding nominees across constituencies in Mirpur, Bhimber, Kotli, Bagh, Poonch, Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley and refugee seats.

The party’s announcement comes as political parties intensify preparations for the AJK polls, which are expected to witness a keen contest among the PPP, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

For the Mirpur division, the PPP awarded tickets to Asfar Shahid for LA-1 Mirpur-1, Qasim Majeed for LA-2 Mirpur-2 (Chakswari), Yasar Sultan for LA-3 Mirpur-3 (Mirpur City), Chaudhry Sohaib Arshad for LA-4 Mirpur-4 (Khari Sharif) and Chaudhry Pervez Ashraf for LA-5 Bhimber-1 (Barnala).

In Kotli district, the party nominated Malik Zafar for LA-8 Kotli-1 (Raj Mahal), Javed Iqbal Bhadhanvi for LA-9 Kotli-2 (Nakyal), senior party leader Chaudhry Yasin for LA-10 Kotli-3 (Kotli) and LA-12 Kotli-5 (Charhoi), and Chaudhry Akhlaq for LA-11 Kotli-4 (Sehensa).

For Bagh and Poonch divisions, the PPP named Sardar Qamar Zaman for LA-16 Bagh-3 (Eastern Bagh), Faisal Mumtaz Rathore for LA-17 Bagh-4 (Haveli), Sardar Amjad Yousaf for LA-18 Sudhnoti-Poonch-1, Sardar Saud Sadiq for LA-19 Sudhnoti-Poonch-2 (Hajira), former AJK Prime Minister Sardar Yaqoob Khan for LA-20 Sudhnoti-Poonch-3 (Khaigala), Sardar Muhammad Abid Khan for LA-21 Sudhnoti-Poonch-4 (Rawalakot City) and Sardar Faheem Akhtar Rabbani for LA-24 Sudhnoti-Poonch-7 (Baloch).

In the Muzaffarabad division, the party nominated Mian Abdul Waheed for LA-26 Neelum Valley-2 (Lower Neelum), Sardar Javed Ayub for LA-27 Muzaffarabad-1 (Katla), Syed Bazil Naqvi for LA-28 Muzaffarabad-2, Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Khan for LA-29 Muzaffarabad-3 (Muzaffarabad City), Mubashir Munir Awan for LA-30 Muzaffarabad-4 (Hattian Dupatta), Ashfaq Zafar for LA-32 Muzaffarabad-6 (Chikar) and Dewan Ali Chughtai for LA-33 Muzaffarabad-7 (Leepa).

The PPP also finalised its nominees for refugee constituencies. Retired Colonel Qadeer Chaudhry was nominated for LA-34 Jammu-1, Chaudhry Asif Gujar for LA-35 Jammu-2 (Gujranwala), Chaudhry Ahsan Ismail Gujar for LA-36 Jammu-3 (Sialkot), Shaheen Kausar Dar for LA-37 Jammu-4 (Narowal-Shakargarh), Raja Shahid Iqbal Advocate for LA-38 Jammu-5 (Gujrat-Wazirabad), Chaudhry Fakhar Zaman for LA-39 Jammu-6 (Jhelum-Rawalpindi-Attock), Ameer Abdul Ghaffar Lone for LA-40 Valley-1 (Karachi), Ghulam Abbas Mir for LA-41 Valley-2 (Lahore), Javed Butt for LA-43 Valley-4 (Rawalpindi), Muhammad Rashid Islam Butt for LA-44 Valley-5 (Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Attock), and Abdul Majeed Khan for LA-45 Valley-6 (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).

The AJK Legislative Assembly elections are scheduled for July 27. The 53-member assembly comprises 45 directly elected members and eight members elected on reserved seats for women, technocrats and religious scholars.

The election campaign has gathered momentum following the AJK High Court’s June 23 decision restoring the registration of PTI and directing the Election Commission to re-allocate the party’s “bat” electoral symbol, enabling its candidates to contest the polls under the party banner after an earlier decision had stripped it of its registration and symbol.

The July 27 vote will determine the composition of the next government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, with the PPP, PML-N and PTI expected to be the main contenders.