PML-N set to finalise AJK candidates

Party to field four former PTI leaders in AJK polls

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LAHORE:

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has finalised its remaining candidates for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections, issuing party tickets to five contenders, while tickets for the remaining two are expected to be issued within a day or two.

The party has also reached a seat adjustment with the Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference on the refugee seat LA-45 Valley-6, party sources revealed.

According to party sources, PML-N has awarded its ticket for LA-45 Valley-6, representing refugees residing in and around Peshawar, to Khawaja Dilawar Wani.

The source said it had been decided early in the process that a seat adjustment would be made in this constituency because of the unavailability of a suitable party candidate. He added that the ticket for LA-28 would be awarded to Chaudhary Shehzad in the coming days.

Similarly, Chaudhary Azhar Sadiq is also expected to receive the party ticket for LA-1.

Sources revealed that Chaudhary Shehzad has joined the PML-N after leaving the PTI, while Chaudhary Azhar Sadiq, who is currently an MLA from the PTI, has yet to formally join the party.

According to the notification issued by the party on Thursday, tickets for five constituencies have been announced.

Malik Muhammad Nawaz Khan has been awarded the ticket for LA-8 Raj Mahal, while Ahsan Raza has been nominated for LA-36 Jammu-3, representing refugees residing in the Sialkot area. Both names had earlier been reported by this newspaper.

The party has also awarded tickets to Chaudhary Muhammad Yasin Gujjar for LA-18 and Amir Shah for LA-41 Valley-2, representing refugees in the Lahore area.

The source further revealed that the PML-N will field four former PTI candidates in the AJK elections.

These include Mir Akbar Khan (LA-16) and Chaudhary Muhammad Rasheed (LA-33), who have already been issued party tickets, while Chaudhary Shehzad (LA-28) and Chaudhary Azhar Sadiq (LA-1) are expected to receive theirs shortly.

Of these four, the source claimed that Mir Akbar Khan from LA-16 Sharqi Bagh and Chaudhary Shehzad, who is due to receive a ticket, had left the PML-N to join the PTI in 2021 after contesting the 2016 elections on PML-N tickets.

He said they were the only two who "couldn't sustain pressure or resist enticement" and switched parties, while the remaining 31 candidates remained loyal to the PML-N.

Party sources further revealed that no meaningful political activity has commenced so far because of the prevailing situation in the region.

The source said around 80 shops remain closed across the valley, particularly in Rawalakot and Poonch, adding that the party hopes conditions will improve before it launches its election campaign in full swing.