Upcoming polls: Political temperature heating up in AJK

PM Sardar Attique is spending time in Lahore to prevent the launch of PML-N.

MUZAFFARABAD: The political temperature in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is heating up as elections for the legislative assembly draw close.

Two developments have set the stage for vibrant political activity in the valley ahead of the election season. Firstly, the announcement for the formal launch of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in AJK and, secondly, the merger of former prime minister Barrister Sultan Mehmood’s People’s Muslim League (PML) with Pakistan Peoples Party Azad Kashmir.

Prospective candidates have already begun their spadework to pick and choose constituencies from where to stand for elections.

The current legislative assembly is going to complete its five-year tenure by the middle of next year and the incumbent Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan has thrown a spin on the situation by hinting at holding elections before time, most likely by April or May.

The much-criticised interference of Pakistan-based parties, under the cover of their respective branches in AJK, would be more direct as PML-N and PPP will face each other after the former’s extension.

Prime Minister Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan has been spending most of his time in Lahore to prevent the formal launch of PML-N, but his efforts seem to have failed with Nawaz Sharif announcing his visit to the state capital Muzaffarabad to formally declare the launch of his party in AJK.

A number of ministers are waiting in the wings to switch their loyalties according to their electoral constituencies.

PPP-AJK, which has gained strength with the merger of Sultan Mehmood’s Peoples Muslim League, will face the Muslim League instead of Muslim Conference in the forthcoming elections, while the ruling Muslim Conference will receive a setback with the launch of PML-N, as it is bound to divide its vote bank.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 20^th, 2010.