A total of 370 candidates are in the run to contest the scheduled July 11 elections to 41-seat Azad Jammu Kashmir Legislative Assembly which include 29 meant for AJK and 12 for occupied Jammu Kashmir refugees dwelling in various parts of Pakistan, official sources said.
The AJK Elections Commission sources told APP here on Friday that since all initial stages of the elections have so far been completed in line with the elections schedule, 370 candidates are now in the field to contest for reaching to the state assembly for the next five year constitutional term of the AJK Legislature, lower house of the AJK parliament.
A total of 104 candidates are in run to contest the elections to 12 seats, six each for Jammu and others and the Kashmir valley, meant for Pakistan-based Jammu Kashmir refugees.
In Mirpur district a total of 34 candidates including those nominated by various political parties as well as independent candidates are contesting the election in all four electoral constituencies of the district including LA-1 (Dadayal) 11 candidates, LA-2 (Chakswari) 4 candidates, LA-3 (Mirpur city) 10 candidates and LA-4 (Khari) 9 candidates.
The administration has made foolproof arrangements to maintain law and order during the elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
About the condition of showing of the identity of the voters, the sources said that the AJK Election Commission has already categorically declared that photocopy of the national identity card as well as original shall have to be produced by the voters for exercising their right of franchise.
However the voter can also prove his or her identity by showing his or her driving license, passport, domicile or state subject certificate in original.
The sources further said that the polling schemes have so far been completed. Voters' lists have been despatched to the concerned electoral constituencies.
The polling will be held on July 11 in all the constituencies from 8am to 5pm without any break.