Parties gear up for AJK polls

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE:

The political parties stepped up preparations for the 2026 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections on Saturday by announcing candidates and finalising campaign strategies.

The Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) announced candidates for 35 constituencies, with party President Aleem Khan distributing tickets among nominees.

AJK IPP President Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, who accompanied Aleem Khan during the announcement, will contest elections from three constituencies - LA-15, LA-22 and LA-25.

The party awarded tickets to candidates across constituencies in AJK, while stating that candidates for the remaining seats would be announced later.

Separately, the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference (AJKMC) announced 37 candidates for the upcoming polls.

According to the party, tickets have been allotted for 29 general constituencies in AJK, five Jammu refugee constituencies and three Valley refugee constituencies.

The party fielded Chaudhry Shaukat Ali from LA-1 Dadyal, Muhammad Shakoor Mughal from LA-3 Mirpur, Raja Zafar Maroof from LA-4 Khari Sharif, Mirza Muhammad Shafi Jalal from LA-5 Barnala, Chaudhry Khizar Hayat from LA-6 Samahni and Raja Tahir Iqbal Khan from LA-7 Bhimber.

Other notable candidates include Sardar Atiq Ahmed Khan from LA-14 Anderkot, Sardar Abdul Rashid Chughtai from LA-15 Central Bagh, Sardar Azhar Nazir Khan from LA-21 Rawalakot City, Sardar Abid Raza Khan from LA-23 Pallandri, Sajjad Anwar Abbasi from LA-29 Muzaffarabad, Syed Tasawur Abbas Mousvi from LA-30 Hattian Bala and Khawaja Dilawar Wani from LA-45 Valley-6.

Meanwhile, the PML-N held a high-level meeting in Lahore to review preparations for the AJK election campaign.

The meeting, chaired by senior PML-N leader Saad Rafique at Model Town, assigned responsibilities to party leaders for the election campaign and reviewed organisational arrangements aimed at ensuring an effective and coordinated campaign.