PML-N and PPP nominees, Dr Najeeb Naqi Khan and Chaudhry Latif Akbar, on Saturday formally submitted their nomination papers for the office of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) president, voting for which will be held on September 24 in Muzaffarabad, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
The AJK president will be elected by the members of the Legislative Assembly through a vote.
The election of the new president will fill the remaining major constitutional office following the recent formation of the new government and the election of the prime minister, speaker and deputy speaker.
Accompanied by AJK Prime Minister Barrister Iftikhar Gillani and PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir, Dr Najeeb Naqi filed his nomination papers to the chief election commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, who is also serving as the Returning Officer for the presidential election.
AJK Assembly Deputy Speaker Ahmad Raza Qadri and other cabinet ministers were also present.
PPP candidate Chaudhry Latif Akbar also submitted his nomination papers to the chief election commissioner.
According to the election schedule, scrutiny of the papers will also be conducted at the office of the Returning Officer on Saturday.
The nomination papers were filed between 10:00am and noon on September 19, while candidates have until 11:30 am on September 23 to withdraw their nominations. The final list of candidates will be issued after the withdrawal deadline.
The PML-N President Nawaz Sharif had nominated Dr Naqi as the party’s candidate for the AJK presidency on September 16 and directed him to submit his nomination papers.
Reporter Zahid Bashir Chaudhry