BY: FT Correspondent:
MUZAFFARABAD — The Election Commission spokesperson said that, according to the schedule for elections to the reserved seats of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, today was the last date for withdrawal of candidature.
Seven candidates had filed nomination papers for five reserved seats for women. After Ms. Shaheen Kausar Dar withdrew her nomination papers, six candidates will now contest the election.
The candidates for the women’s reserved seats are Ms. Riffat Abid, Ms. Zobia Khursheed, Ms. Sehrish Qamar, Ms. Farzana Yaqoob, Ms. Maryam Idrees and Ms. Maryam Zaman.
For one reserved seat for Ulema and Mashaikh, Hafiz Tariq Mahmood and Muhammad Mazhar Saeed will contest against each other.
Similarly, Syed Iftikhar Gilani and Sahibzada Zulfiqar Ali will compete for one reserved seat for technocrats and professionals.
For one reserved seat for overseas state residents, only one candidate’s nomination papers were approved, resulting in the seat being filled unopposed.
According to the election schedule, polling for the reserved seats for women, technocrats and professionals, and Ulema and Mashaikh will be held tomorrow, August 24, 2026, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Assembly Hall in Muzaffarabad.
