- PPP and JUI-F will present joint candidates in two constituencies.
- JUI-F will support PPP candidates for all remaining seats.
- Bilawal-led party unveils first list of candidates for elections.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Azad Jammu and Kashmir chapters on Sunday formally announced an electoral alliance for the July 27 elections to the 53-member AJK Legislative Assembly, agreeing to field common candidates in selected constituencies.
The alliance was unveiled at a joint press conference in Islamabad by PPP AJK president Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin and JUI-F AJK chief Maulana Saeed Yousaf. Chief Minister Mian Abdul Waheed, Minister Nabeela Ayub, political aide Syed Azadar Hussain Kazmi and other party leaders were also present.
Under the agreement, JUI-F candidates will contest as joint candidates in LA-23 Sudhnoti/Pallandri and LA-14 Western Bagh/Dhirkot. To support the alliance, PPP candidates Nabeela Ayub and Zobia Khurshid will withdraw their nomination papers, while the JUI-F will support PPP candidates in all remaining constituencies.
Speaking on the occasion, Yasin described the alliance as an important development in AJK politics and thanked PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for facilitating the agreement.
He reiterated PPP’s commitment to the Kashmir cause, saying the party had consistently highlighted the issue at national and international forums.
Maulana Yousaf termed the agreement as the first formal electoral alliance between the two parties in AJK and ordered JUI-F candidates who had filed nominations in other constituencies to withdraw as per the party’s decision.
Waheed said the alliance reflected the political maturity and mutual understanding of the two leaders.
Ayub announced that she would withdraw her nomination papers as per party policy and actively campaign for the common candidate in her constituency.
Leaders of both parties expressed confidence that the alliance would strengthen their electoral prospects and help them form the next AJK government.
Separately, the Bilawal Bhutto-led party unveiled its first list of 35 candidates for the upcoming AJK elections, covering constituencies of Mirpur, Bhimber, Kotli, Bagh, Poonch, Neelum, Muzaffarabad and Jammu and Kashmir refugee seats based in different parts of Pakistan.
Prominent nominees include Afsar Shahid (LA-1 Mirpur-I), Qasim Majeed (LA-2 Mirpur-II, Chakswari), Yasar Sultan (LA-3 Mirpur City), Chaudhry Sohaib Arshad (LA-4 Khari Sharif), Chaudhry Pervez Ashraf (LA-5 Bhimber-I, Barnala) and Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, who will contest for both LA-10 Kotli-III and LA-12 Kotli-V (Charhoi).
Party sources said the remaining candidates would be announced in the second phase in the coming days.
PPP leaders said campaign preparations were in their final stages, while political observers believe the candidate’s announcement is likely to intensify electoral activity in AJK ahead of the July 27 elections, according to the state. APPLICATION reported.
