PPP has finalized candidates for constituencies across Azad Jammu and Kashmir, intensifying preparations for the July 27 legislative elections expected to feature a close contest with PML-N and PTI.
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Sunday unveiled its list of candidates for the upcoming July 27 elections to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly, marking a major step in its campaign as political competition intensifies across the region.
The party has fielded candidates in constituencies spanning Mirpur, Bhimber, Kotli, Bagh, Poonch, Muzaffarabad, Neelum Valley and refugee seats, positioning itself for what is expected to be a closely contested election against the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
PPP Candidates Across AJK
For the Mirpur Division, the PPP awarded tickets to Asfar Shahid (LA-1 Mirpur-1), Qasim Majeed (LA-2 Mirpur-2, Chakswari), Yasar Sultan (LA-3 Mirpur-3, Mirpur City), Chaudhry Sohaib Arshad (LA-4 Mirpur-4, Khari Sharif), and Chaudhry Pervez Ashraf (LA-5 Bhimber-1, Barnala).
In Kotli District, Malik Zafar will contest from LA-8 Kotli-1 (Raj Mahal), Javed Iqbal Bhadhanvi from LA-9 Kotli-2 (Nakyal), senior PPP leader Chaudhry Yasin from both LA-10 Kotli-3 (Kotli) and LA-12 Kotli-5 (Charhoi), while Chaudhry Akhlaq has been nominated for LA-11 Kotli-4 (Sehensa).
For the Bagh and Poonch divisions, the party selected Sardar Qamar Zaman (LA-16 Bagh-3), Faisal Mumtaz Rathore (LA-17 Bagh-4), Sardar Amjad Yousaf (LA-18 Sudhnoti-Poonch-1), Sardar Saud Sadiq (LA-19 Sudhnoti-Poonch-2), former AJK Prime Minister Sardar Yaqoob Khan (LA-20 Sudhnoti-Poonch-3), Sardar Muhammad Abid Khan (LA-21 Sudhnoti-Poonch-4), and Sardar Faheem Akhtar Rabbani (LA-24 Sudhnoti-Poonch-7).
In the Muzaffarabad Division, Mian Abdul Waheed was nominated for LA-26 Neelum Valley-2, Sardar Javed Ayub for LA-27 Muzaffarabad-1, Syed Bazil Naqvi for LA-28 Muzaffarabad-2, Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Khan for LA-29 Muzaffarabad-3, Mubashir Munir Awan for LA-30 Muzaffarabad-4, Ashfaq Zafar for LA-32 Muzaffarabad-6, and Dewan Ali Chughtai for LA-33 Muzaffarabad-7.
Refugee Constituency Nominees
The PPP also finalized candidates for refugee constituencies, nominating retired Colonel Qadeer Chaudhry (LA-34 Jammu-1), Chaudhry Asif Gujar (LA-35 Jammu-2), Chaudhry Ahsan Ismail Gujar (LA-36 Jammu-3), Shaheen Kausar Dar (LA-37 Jammu-4), Raja Shahid Iqbal Advocate (LA-38 Jammu-5), Chaudhry Fakhar Zaman (LA-39 Jammu-6), Ameer Abdul Ghaffar Lone (LA-40 Valley-1), Ghulam Abbas Mir (LA-41 Valley-2), Javed Butt (LA-43 Valley-4), Muhammad Rashid Islam Butt (LA-44 Valley-5), and Abdul Majeed Khan (LA-45 Valley-6).
Election Campaign Gains Momentum
The AJK Legislative Assembly elections are scheduled to take place on July 27. The 53-member assembly consists of 45 directly elected members and eight reserved-seat members, including seats allocated for women, technocrats and religious scholars.
The election campaign has gathered significant momentum following the AJK High Court’s June 23 ruling restoring PTI’s registration and directing the Election Commission to re-allocate the party’s traditional “bat” electoral symbol. The decision enables PTI candidates to contest the election under the party banner after its registration and symbol had previously been withdrawn.
Three-Way Contest Expected
Political observers expect the July 27 vote to produce a highly competitive contest among the PPP, PML-N and PTI, with all three parties seeking to secure enough seats to form the next government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
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