- PPP and JUI-F will field joint candidates in two constituencies.
- JUI-F will support PPP candidates in all remaining seats.
- The party led by Bilawal presents the first list of electoral candidates.
Azad Jammu and Kashmir chapters of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Sunday formally announced an electoral alliance for the July 27 elections to the 53-member AJK Legislative Assembly, agreeing to field joint candidates in selected constituencies.
The alliance was launched at a joint press conference in Islamabad by PPP AJK Chairman 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.
As per the agreement, JUI-F candidates will contest as joint nominees in LA-23 Sudhnoti/Pallandri and LA-14 Western Bagh/Dhirkot. In support of the alliance, PPP candidates Nabeela Ayub and Zobia Khurshid will withdraw their nomination papers, while JUI-F will support PPP candidates in all remaining constituencies.
On the occasion, Yasin described the alliance as a significant development in AJK politics and credited PPP president Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for facilitating the deal.
He reiterated PPP’s commitment to the Kashmir cause and said 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 nomination papers in other constituencies to withdraw in accordance with the party’s decision.
Waheed said the alliance reflects the political maturity and mutual understanding of both leaderships.
Ayub announced that he would withdraw his nomination papers in line with the party policy and would actively campaign for the joint candidate in his constituency.
Leaders of both parties expressed confidence that the alliance would strengthen their electoral prospects and help them form the next government in AJK.
On the other hand, the Bilawal Bhutto-led party released 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 posts based in different parts of Pakistan.
Notable 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 compete from both LA-10s. Kotli-III and LA-12 Kotli-V (Charhoi).
Party sources said the remaining candidates will 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 across AJK ahead of the July 27 polls, the state said. APPLICATION reported.
