AJK Presidential Race: PML-N, PPP File Nomination Papers

News Desk
MUZAFFARABAD: The ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the opposition Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have officially submitted nomination papers for their respective candidates, setting the stage for a high-stakes Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) presidential election scheduled for September 24.
The constitutional office has remained vacant since January following the sad demise of former president Barrister Sultan Mahmood, with the duties temporarily managed first by former speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar and subsequently by incumbent Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq.
Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, acting as the returning officer, formally received the nomination documents from the contending political camps.
The ruling PML-N has put forward 62-year-old former minister Dr Najeeb Naqi as its presidential hopeful, aiming to secure legislative backing to fill the long-standing constitutional vacuum at the helm of the region’s apex office.
Under the provisions of the AJK Constitution, the president is elected directly by members of the Legislative Assembly through a majority vote of the total house membership. This electoral contest carries profound political significance, serving as an important gauge of legislative alignment and party strength within the regional parliament amidst evolving political dynamics in the valley.

Following the formal scrutiny of the submitted nomination papers by the election commission, the political parties are expected to ramp up their lobbying efforts to secure crucial votes ahead of the September 24 polling date. The successful candidate will assume office to complete the remainder of the constitutional term, bringing much-needed administrative stability to the presidency.