PML-N, PPP in race for AJK presidency
The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) formally entered the race for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) presidency on Saturday, filing nomination papers for their respective candidates and setting the stage for a September 24 contest.
PML-N nominee Dr Najeeb Naqi and PPP candidate Chaudhry Latif Akbar submitted their papers to Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, who is also the returning officer for the presidential election. Both nomination papers were declared valid after scrutiny, clearing the way for the vote in the newly elected Legislative Assembly.
The office of the AJK president has remained vacant since January following the death of Barrister Sultan Mahmood.
Then-Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar had initially served as acting president. The role was subsequently assumed by incumbent Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq after he was elected speaker on August 25.
Under the AJK Constitution, the president is elected by members of the Legislative Assembly by a majority of the total membership, in the manner prescribed by law.
The PML-N has fielded 62-year-old former minister Dr Najeeb Naqi. His nomination was proposed by senior PML-N leader and former prime minister Raja Farooq Haider and seconded by AJK Prime Minister Iftikhar Gillani.
The PPP has nominated 78-year-old Chaudhry Latif Akbar for the office. His nomination was proposed by former minister Deevan Ali Khan Chughtai and seconded by fellow legislator Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi.
The PML-N candidate arrived at the Election Commission office accompanied by his proposer and seconder, along with several other party legislators, including PML-N's regional president Shah Ghulam Qadir.
Haider and Gillani first posed for photographs with the nomination paper as they appeared to formally hand it over to the chief election commissioner.
Subsequently, several other PML-N legislators, including the party president and ministers, also posed with the same nomination paper, standing alongside the chief election commissioner and appearing to hand it over to him in a similar manner.
Akbar was likewise accompanied by several PPP legislators, who posed for photographs during the submission of his nomination papers.
Candidates may withdraw their nomination papers by 11:30am on September 23, while polling will be held at the AJK Assembly Secretariat from 10am to 1pm on September 24. Counting of votes and announcement of the result will follow on the same day.