PESHAWAR: (APP) The election campaign for two seats of Azad Jummu Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly (LA) in Khyber Pakthunkhwa has reached to its peak as candidates of political parties and independents were making last efforts to get support of Kashmiri people in the province.
The Kashmiris settled in different districts of KP is all set to exercise their right of franchise for two seats of AJK Legislative Elections ie LA 41 Kashmir Valley VI and LA 35 Jammu VI on Thursday (July 21) for which Election Commission has made foolproof arrangements.
According to Election Commission sources, against the total 41 seats of LA AJK, 29 seats are kept for AJK whereas 12 seats reserved for Kashmirs voters, who are living in different areas of all four provinces of Pakistan.
The political parties have fielded strong candidates to win the important LA 41 Valley VI and LA 35 Jammu VI constituencies.
The contesting candidates on Monday visited Kashmiris community living in Peshawar, Hazara, Mardan, Bannu, DI Khan, Mardan, Swat, Sinkayari and Ghari Habibullah and addressed corner meetings.
They informed the voters about their programs and party’s election manifestos. They also met with leadership of Kashmirs to get their political support as part of the election campaign.
The supporters have installed elections banners and posters in front of their election offices and different permanent places of the constituency. Great enthusiasm is being found on young voters.
It may be recalled that LA 41 Kashmir Valley VI seat has been reserved for those Kashmirs that had migrated from Indian Occupied Kashmir to KP. As many as 7500 registered Kashmiris voters will exercise their right of franchise for this seat on Thursday.
Likewise, the seat of LA 35 Jammu VI was reserved for those people of Azad Kashmir who settled in different areas of Pakistan including KP. The total registered voters in this constituency were over 52000 including 1700 registered voters in Khyber Pakthunkhwa.
For LA 41 Kashmir Valley VI, tough contest is expected between PPP Abdul Rehman Salahri, JUIF Fayaz Salahri, JI Noorul Bari and PTI Abdul Basit of PTI.
PTI candidate Abdul Majid was backed by Muslim Conference whereas JI Noorul Bari was supported by PMLN.
Regarding LA 35 Jammu VI constituency that spread from Jehlum to entire KP, the total Kashmir registered voters settled in KP is about 17000 out of total 52000 registered voters.
Keeping in view of scattered of voters in the constituency, the candidates have contacted leaders and family heads of Kashmirs families to muster their support.
A total of 13 candidates in the run for this constituency include Ayaz Ahmed (MQM), Javed Aftar Jummad Kashmir PPP, Ch Fakhar Zaman, PPP, Hameed Khan PTI, Syed Nasir Hussain Independent, Muhammad Razak Independent, Muhammad Shahzad Khan Independent, Muhammad Sageer Independent, Mumtaz Abbasi Indepdent, Rajad Sulman Sadeeq PMLN, Gul Nar Iqbal Independent and Yousaf Nasim Muslim Conference. Tough contest is expected between PMLN, PPP and PTI candidate in this constituency.
The KP police have made foolproof security arrangements for the elections. Arms and ammunitions would not allowed in polling stations and elements try to disrupt election process would be sent to jails.