Preparations for the upcoming general elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) have gathered momentum, with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) announcing a detailed schedule for interviews of ticket aspirants across the region.
According to party sources, candidates who have submitted applications for party tickets from nine constituencies of Muzaffarabad division have been summoned for interviews on February 13. Aspirants from 11 constituencies of Poonch division will appear before the parliamentary board in Rawalakot on February 14.
Interviews for candidates from 13 constituencies of Mirpur division will be held in Mirpur on February 15, while those contesting elections on refugee seats will face the board in Islamabad on February 17.
The interviews will be conducted by the party’s parliamentary board under the chairmanship of PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir. The board will include parliamentary leaders Raja Farooq Haider, Mushtaq Minhas, Farooq Farooq, Iftikhar Gilani, Najeeb Naqi and other senior party figures.
Party officials said candidates from all 33 constituencies of Azad Kashmir have submitted applications for party tickets. Around 180 aspirants are in the race, including 38 from Muzaffarabad division, 51 from Poonch division and 90 from Mirpur division.
Notably, 26 candidates have applied for the party ticket from the Sahansa constituency in Mirpur division alone, reflecting intense competition.
Following the completion of interviews, the parliamentary board’s recommendations will be reviewed by federal ministers and subsequently presented to party president Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. The final approval of candidates for all constituencies will be granted by Nawaz Sharif after the concluding round of consultations.