MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu Kashmir Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal on Monday announced schedule of the general election for the 49-member Legislative Assembly of the state.
According to the schedule, polling will take place on July 21 whereas 2,237,058 electorates will exercise their right to franchise. Among total 2,237,058 voters, 1,211,842 male and 1,025,216 female will cast their votes. According to a code conduct, the candidates will be allowed to hold indoor corner meetings only.
The candidates would be required to obtain permission from their respective deputy commissioners for holding public meetings. Addressing a news conference here in the state capital, Justice Mughal said that the constitutional tenure of the Legislative Assembly expires on July 24, 2016.
Under the state’s constitution of 1974, it was mandatory to hold elections 60 days before the last date, he said. The candidates can file their nomination papers by June 16. The appeals will be announced on June 25 and 26. The election chief said that the candidates can withdraw their nomination papers on June 27.
He said that final list of the candidates would be displayed on June 28 and the election symbols would be allotted on June 29. For 12 constituencies of the Kashmiri refugees, a total of 4,44,634 voters will be entitled to exercise their right to franchise. To a question, he said that new voter lists have been prepared with the cooperation of NADRA for 2016 election and bogus votes have been removed.
He announced a complete ban on promotion, transfers of government employees and put a ban on new schemes, inauguration or foundation stone laying ceremonies of new development schemes. He said that the elections would be held under the security of the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Rangers and a code of conduct for political parties and candidates has been issued.
In the Azad Jammu Kashmir, elections will be held under judiciary while in 12 constituencies in Pakistan, these would be held under the supervision of the Election Commission of Pakistan.
