The ruling PML-N and opposition PPP on Saturday submitted nomination papers for their respective candidates for the office of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) president, setting the stage for a contest on September 24.
The nomination papers were received by Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, who is also the returning officer for the presidential election.
The PML-N has fielded 62-year-old former minister Dr Najeeb Naqi, whose nomination was proposed by senior PML-N leader and former prime minister Raja Farooq Haider and seconded by AJK Prime Minister Iftikhar Gillani.
Meanwhile, the PPP nominated 78-year-old Akbar for the office, with his nomination proposed by former minister Deevan Ali Khan Chughtai and seconded by fellow legislator Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi.
The PML-N hopeful arrived at the Election Commission office accompanied by his proposer and seconder, as well as several other PML-N legislators, including the party’s regional president, Shah Ghulam Qadir.
Under the AJK Constitution, the president is elected by members of the Legislative Assembly by a majority of the total membership, in the manner prescribed by law.