Candidates backed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have submitted their nomination papers for the presidency of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), setting the stage for the September 24 election.
The office of the AJK president has remained vacant since January following the death of the previous office-holder. The position has since been managed on an acting basis by successive speakers of the Legislative Assembly.
Under the AJK Constitution, the president is elected by members of the Legislative Assembly through a majority vote.
The nomination papers of both candidates were submitted to the returning officer and were declared valid following scrutiny.
Candidates can withdraw their nominations by 11:30am on September 23, while polling will be held at the AJK Legislative Assembly Secretariat from 10am to 1pm on September 24. The votes will be counted after polling, with the result expected to be announced the same day.
The presidential election follows the recent completion of elections to the AJK Legislative Assembly. Polling for the assembly was held in phases between July 27 and August 10 amid security concerns.
In the 38 directly contested constituencies, the PML-N secured 25 seats while the PPP won 12. One independent legislator subsequently joined the PML-N.
The PML-N later secured five of the seven reserved seats contested in the assembly, while the PPP won two.
The newly elected assembly members subsequently took oath, paving the way for the formation of the new government and the election of the assembly’s presiding officers.
The presidential election will complete the process of filling the region’s major constitutional offices.
