The presidential office of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has remained vacant since January following the death of Barrister Sultan Mahmood. The position was initially held on an interim basis by then-AJK Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar.
The role was later taken over by Chaudhry Tariq Farooq after he was elected speaker of the Legislative Assembly on August 25.
AJK Chief Election Commissioner retired Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal announced the election schedule during a press conference on Tuesday.
According to the schedule, candidates will submit their nomination papers between 10am and noon on September 19 (Saturday), with the chief election commissioner serving as the returning officer.
The scrutiny of nomination papers will be conducted at the chief election commissioner’s office on the same day. Candidates will have until 11:30am on September 23 to withdraw their nominations.
Polling for the presidential election will take place at the AJK Assembly Secretariat from 10am to 1pm on September 24. The votes will be counted immediately after polling, with the result expected to be announced the same day.
Senior AJK Election Commission member Khawaja Mohammad Ahsen and member Syed Nazeerul Hassan Gillani also attended the press conference.
With a majority in the AJK Legislative Assembly, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is considered well placed to secure the presidency for its nominee.
Party sources indicated that former health minister Dr Najeeb Naqi is the leading candidate for the position. He hails from AJK’s Sudhnoti district.
