Eighteen candidates have filed their nomination papers for the eight reserved seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly on Thursday. For five reserved seats of women, nine candidates have filed their nominations. Out of total 18 candidates, nine have filed their nominations for women reserved seats, four for Overseas Kashmiris, three for Ulema/Mashaikh and three for technocrats seats.
Elections on the eight reserved seats are scheduled to be held on July 22. Last date for withdrawal of nominations is July 21.
In the house of 49 legislatures, 41 are elected directly by the public by using their right of vote on adult franchise basis while eight seats including five for women and one each for Ulema/ Mashaikh, overseas Kashmiris and Technocrats are reserved.
With the elections of eight reserved seats the strength of the house will be completed as later the house will elect Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Prime Minister to compete the electoral process and formation of new government.
The joint sitting of the AJK Council, the Upper House and the AJK Legislative Assembly, the Lower House later will elect the AJK President on July 27.
The women candidates are Shazia Khatoon, Mehnaz Shafique, Gular Fatima, Shamim Ali Malik, Naheed Tariq, Meher-un-Nisa, Nigaar Khokhar, Aasima Aashiq and Nasreen Rani.
The names of the candidates filed papers for the one overseas Kashmiris seat include Khurshid Ahmed, Muhammad Riaz, Muhammad, Muhammad Israr Ullah and Zia Ul Haque Gorsi.
The candidates who have filed their nomination for one seat of Ulema Mashaikh include Muhammad Altaf Mahboob, Fazal Rasool Tahir and Peer Attique ur Rehman while two candidates including Abdul Rashid Abbasi and Syed Nishat Kazmi have filed their nominations for the one Technocrats seat.
Polling on the eight reserved seats will be held in the AJK Legislative Assembly from 10am to 3pm on July 22.