PML-N leadership reviews women candidates as the party prepares for elections to eight reserved seats in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Assembly.
MURREE: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has intensified consultations over the formation of the next government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, with party leader Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz interviewing candidates for reserved seats.
The interviews were held in Murree for five women’s reserved seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly. PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah also participated in the consultations.
The party leadership reviewed the credentials of several women seeking PML-N tickets. Each interview reportedly lasted between five and 10 minutes.
Those interviewed included Maryam Kashmiri, president of the PML-N AJK Women’s Wing; Secretary General Nasira Azeem Khan; former reserved-seat lawmaker Sehrish Qamar; former Assembly member Nisara Abbasi; Maryam Idrees; Maria Iqbal Tarana; and Zareeda Nisar.
The widow of late Raja Abid Khan of Dadyal also appeared before the party leadership. Her son, Raja Shoaib Abid, had withdrawn from the electoral contest in support of PML-N candidate and MLA-elect Chaudhry Azhar Sadiq.
During the meeting, the PML-N leadership acknowledged the role of women in the recent AJK elections, describing their participation as an important and positive development for the democratic process.
The PML-N emerged as the largest party in the recent AJK elections, winning 25 directly elected seats and securing the support of an allied member. Based on its strength in the Assembly, the party is expected to secure four of the five reserved seats for women.
The party is also expected to obtain the remaining three reserved seats designated for religious scholars or Mashaikh, overseas state subjects, and technocrats and other professionals.
The AJK Election Commission has scheduled polling for all eight reserved seats on Aug. 24 at the AJK Legislative Assembly Hall in Muzaffarabad. Voting will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Candidates will submit nomination papers on Aug. 20, with scrutiny taking place the same day. Appeals against nomination decisions can be filed on Aug. 21 and will be heard by the Election Commission on Aug. 22.
Candidates can withdraw their nominations on Aug. 23, after which the final list of contestants will be issued.
The AJK Assembly has 53 seats, including 45 directly elected seats and eight reserved seats. However, polling could not take place in seven constituencies because of law-and-order conditions in parts of Poonch and Sudhnoti districts. Consequently, 38 directly elected members will participate in the process of electing representatives to the reserved seats.
Separately, the Election Commission issued notifications confirming the victories of PPP candidate Sardar Ziaul Qamar and PML-N candidate Sardar Mir Akbar in Bagh district. Qamar was declared elected from LA-15 Central Bagh, while Akbar was declared the returned candidate from LA-16 Eastern Bagh.
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