Upcoming polls: 22 political parties field 218 candidates

MUZAFFARABAD:

There are 218 candidates fielded by 22 political and religious parties, while as many as 203 will try their luck as independent candidates.

Islamabad-backed Pakistan People’s Party (electoral symbol Arrow) has fielded its candidates in all 41 constituencies.

AJK’s ruling Muslim Conference, which bifurcated last year giving birth to the Muslim League-N, nominated 36 while the latter have fielded 35.

The Pakistan Muslim League-N (Tiger) has entered into electoral alliance with Jamat-e-Islami AJK and Jammu and Kashmir People’s Party (JKPP) of Khalid Ibrahim.

Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan-led Muslim Conference (Horse) has also made electoral alliance with two religious groups – Jamiat Ahle Hadees and Jamiat Ulma-e-Jammu Kashmir.

MQM has also launched 41 candidates for all constituencies though it has no fewer public support. MQM chief Altaf Hussian also addressed a election campaign rally in support of his party’s candidates in Muzaffarabad.

The Jammu Kashmir Islamic Democratic Party (Rose) has nominated 11 candidates, Jamaat-e-Islami AJK (Scale) five and Jamiat Ulma-e-Islam Azad Kashmir (Book) nominated three candidates.

An umbrella of groups demanding independence of Kashmir from India and Pakistan, the National Democratic Alliance (Boat), has fielded 12 candidates

Apart from the Jamat-e-Islami , there is little possibility that any religious party will make way to the regional assembly except the Jamaat which is most likely to win one seat either from Azad Kashmir proper or from refugees’ constituencies.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2011.