PPP, JUI-F forge AJK election alliance, announce joint candidates for two seats

• PPP, JUI-F to field joint candidates in two constituencies.
• JUI-F will backs PPP candidates in all remaining seats.
• Bilawal-led party unveils first list of election candidates.
  

The Pakistan Peoples 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 joint 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. Senior Minister Mian Abdul Waheed, Minister Nabeela Ayub, Political Assistant Syed Azadar Hussain Kazmi and other party leaders were also present.

Under 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 back PPP candidates in all remaining constituencies.

Speaking at 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 arrangement.

He reiterated the 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 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 line 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 accordance with the party’s 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, Barnala), and Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, who will contest from 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 announcement is likely to intensify election activity across AJK ahead of the July 27 polls, state-run APPreported.