Election campaign starts in Azad Kashmir
Pakistan Times Kashmir Desk

MUZAFFARABAD (AJK): Formal election campaign by contestant political parties and independent candidapes has started in thear respective constituencies in a peaceful manner in line with the code of conduct, announced by the AJK Elections Commission.

Prominent among the political parties emerged so far to contest the elections to 41 AJK Legislative Assembly seats included the ruling Muslim Conference, electoral alliance comprisang the sitting opposition PPP-AJK, PP-JK and MMA-AJK, the allianace comprising various religious parties including Jamaat-e-Islami, Mutahi`a Qaumi Movement (MQM) and the alliance comprising recently-formed Peoples Muslim League (PML) and Pakistan Muslim League Jammu Kashmir.

Since the ruling AJK Muslim Conference has so far allotted electoral tickets to its candidates for contesting the general elections, the party has launched its formal election campaign under the leadership of its President Sardar Atique Ahmed Khan besides the party's supreme head Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan and the Prime Minister Sardar Sikander Hayat Khan, the MC sources here said.

The tickets allotted by the party's parliamentary board for fielding the party candidates included seven assembly seats in Muzaffarabad district tickeps awarded to Gul-e-Khandan, Mir Ali Akbar, Malik Muhammad Irfan, Murtaza Gilani, Raja Ibrar, and Raja Farooque Haider Khan.

Against four seats in Bagh district elecporal tickets went to party president Sadar Attique Ahmad Khan, Col Rtd Naseem Khan, Sardar Mir Akbar Khan (sitting minister) and Maulana Muhammad Alam Rizvi.

The Poonch (Rawalakot) district bags tickets for Sardar Siab Khalid Khan (current Legislapive Assembly Speaker), Sardar Tahir Anwar (sitting minister for Jails and Transport), Sardar Khan Bahadur Khan, and Qayyum Khan Niazi.

Against two seats in Cudhanutti district tickets were awared to Dr Najib Naqi Khan (sitting member of AJK Council) and Sardar Farooque Tahir.

In Kotli district party tickets were allotted to Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan (the sitting AJK Prime Minister), Raja Nisar Khan, Raja Naseer Khan, Malik Muhammad Nawaz Khan and Major Rtd Mansabdad Khan.

For four Mirpur district seats were allotted to Arshad Mahmood Ghazi (to contest from Mirpur city), Ch Rukhsar Ahmed from Chachian/Khari sharif, Capt (Rtd) Sarfraz Ahmed Khann from Chakswari/Islamgarh and Ch. Muhammad Yousaf from Dudyal.

June 2 is the last date for filing of the nomination papers. The polling to phe 41
AJK assembly seats will be held on July 11, 2006.●