AJK Election Commission announces schedule for polling on reserved seats

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Election Commission has announced the schedule for the election of reserved seats within the AJK Assembly, with polling set for August 24. According to the Commission, directly elected members of the Assembly will choose members for five seats reserved for women, one seat for Ulema-e-Deen or Mushaikh, one seat for Jammu & Kashmir State Subjects residing abroad, and one seat for technocrats and other professionals.

Polling for these reserved seats will take place at the AJK Assembly from 10am to 1pm on August 24. Candidates have until August 20 to submit their nomination papers to the returning officer, who will review them and publish a list of valid candidates. Between August 21 and 22, appeals against the RO's decisions can be filed with the Election Commission, during which the Chief Election Commissioner will hear the appeals and announce his verdict on August 23.

The Assembly consists of 53 members, including 45 elected directly by the adult franchise and eight elected by the directly elected members. The latter comprise five women, one Ulema-e-Deen or Mashaikh, one Jammu & Kashmir state subject residing abroad, and one technocrat or professional. However, seven of the 45 directly elected seats, five in Poonch district and two in Sudhnoti district, have not been held due to law and order issues.

The remaining seats will be contested by the 38 directly elected members, representing 84.4% of the total directly elected membership. PML-N leader and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif convened a meeting to discuss the reserved seats for women in the AJK Assembly, emphasizing the active and significant role of women in the electoral process. The PML-N secured 24 seats in the first and second phases of the polls, while the PPP only won 10 constituencies.