MUZAFFARABAD: PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Sunday interviewed candidates seeking party tickets for five women’s reserved seats in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly.
The interviews were held in Murree as the PML-N leadership continued consultations on reserved seats and government formation following the recent AJK elections.
PML-N AJK regional president Shah Ghulam Qadir and Prime Minister’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah also attended the meeting.
The party said its leadership appreciated the “active and significant” participation of women in the AJK elections, terming it a positive development for the democratic process.
Each candidate was interviewed individually for between five and 10 minutes. Those appearing before the leadership included Maryam Kashmiri, Nasira Azeem Khan, Sehrish Qamar, Nisara Abbasi, Maryam Idrees, Maria Iqbal Tarana and Zareeda Nisar.
The PML-N has secured 25 directly elected seats and one seat through an allied member and is expected to win four of the five women’s reserved seats. It is also likely to secure all three other reserved seats.
Meanwhile, the AJK Election Commission announced that polling for eight reserved seats in the Legislative Assembly would be held on Aug 24.
The seats comprise five reserved for women and one each for Ulema-i-Din or Mashaikh, Jammu and Kashmir State subjects residing abroad, and technocrats and other professionals.
Candidates will submit nomination papers in Muzaffarabad on Aug 20, while scrutiny will be conducted the same day. Appeals can be filed on Aug 21, with decisions due on Aug 22.
Candidates may withdraw their nominations until Aug 23, after which the final list will be issued.
Polling will take place at the AJK Legislative Assembly Hall in Muzaffarabad from 10am to 1pm on Aug 24.
The commission also declared PPP’s Sardar Ziaul Qamar and PML-N’s Sardar Mir Akbar elected from LA-15 (Central Bagh) and LA-16 (Eastern Bagh), respectively, following the completion of polling in the two constituencies.
