- PPP, JUI-F to field joint candidates in two constituencies.
- JUI-F will support PPP candidates in all remaining seats.
- Bilawal-led party unveils first list of election candidates.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Azad Jammu and Kashmir branches 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 select 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. Senior Minister Mian Abdul Waheed, Minister Nabeela Ayub, Political Assistant 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.
Speaking on the occasion, Yasin described the alliance as a significant development in AJK politics and credited PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman for facilitating the event.
Reiterating the PPP’s commitment to the Kashmir cause, he said the party had consistently highlighted the issue in national and international fora.
Maulana Yousaf termed the agreement as the first formal electoral alliance between the two parties in AJK and directed JUI-F candidates who had filed nomination papers in other constituencies to withdraw in accordance with the party’s decision.
Waheed said the alliance reflected the political maturity and mutual understanding of both leaderships.
Ayub announced that she would withdraw her nomination papers in line with party policy and actively campaign for the joint candidate in her constituency.
Leaders from both parties expressed confidence that the alliance would strengthen their electoral prospects and help them form the next government in AJK.
Separately, the Bilawal Bhutto-led party unveiled its first list of 35 candidates for the upcoming AJK elections, covering constituencies across Mirpur, Bhimber, Kotli, Bagh, Poonch, Neelum, Muzaffarabad and Jammu and Kashmir refugee seats based in different parts of Pakistan.
Among the prominent nominees are 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, both of whom will), and Chaudsin of Yamadsin, who will), 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 announcement is likely to intensify election activity across AJK ahead of the July 27 polls, the state-run APP reported.
