The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has “almost” finalised its candidates for 27 out of 33 constituencies in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), a party leader said on Friday after the party’s parliamentary board held its first formal meeting followed by detailed consultations with more than 200 aspirants seeking tickets for the upcoming elections.
The meeting, chaired by PML-N president Nawaz Sharif, was held in Lahore. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif were among the 25-member board, 23 of whom had been notified on April 16. Former MNA Chaudhry Abid Raza and Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf were added on the panel afterwards, and also asked to attend the session.
According to participants, the board first met in a closed-door session that lasted about an hour, during which Nawaz Sharif took detailed briefings from AJK-based members on the prevailing political situation, according to participants. Senior leaders Rana Sanaullah and Ahsan Iqbal also shared their input.
Later, all ticket aspirants were called in collectively and heard one by one, beginning from Dadyal (LA-1) to the last constituency, LA-45 (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). However, due to Friday prayer timings, candidates appearing later in the sequence were given relatively limited time to present their views.
Nawaz Sharif told the gathering that he had a personal attachment with party workers and had initially planned to meet them in Muzaffarabad, but the visit had to be postponed due to weather conditions.
“However, I will visit you there soon,” he said, adding that workers should return and actively participate in the election campaign with full commitment.
“Rest assured, we will form the next government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir,” he said, while urging party workers to maintain discipline.
“For me, all workers are very important,” he added.
Some participants introduced themselves and offered suggestions, including concerns about “parachuters” — a sarcastic term used for late entrants into the party fold.
“On the whole, participants spoke well. Mian sahib [Sharif] was pleased with the discussion,” a party leader said.
Another leader said that after Friday prayers, a second sitting of the parliamentary board was held, during which some sub-committees were formed.
“As far as the 33 constituencies within AJK are concerned, the political committee constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier this year has reached consensus on candidates in 27 of them,” the leader claimed, requesting anonymity.
“Mian sahib has directed that consensus be developed on the remaining six seats as well and a final report be presented next week,” he added.
According to sources, Federal Ministers Amir Muqam and Rana Sanaullah — both members of the parliamentary board — have convened a meeting of the political committee in Islamabad on Monday to finalise recommendations for Nawaz Sharif.
For the 12 refugee constituencies in Pakistan, relevant MNAs and MPAs have been asked to submit their proposals in line with ground realities, the sources said.
Tariq Naqash
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