July 3, 2021
ISLAMABAD: Dual nationals are allowed to contest the July 25 Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections and cast their votes subject to the other constitutional requirements which are applicable to local voters.
“Under Article 24 of the AJK Constitution, a person is qualified to be elected as, and to be, a member of the AJK Legislative Assembly (AJKLA) if he is a state subject; he is not less than 25 years of age; and his name appears on the electoral roll of any constituency in AJK,” AJK Election Commission (AJKEC) Secretary Sardar Ghazanfar told The News, answering a question.
Explaining, the secretary said that if any Kashmiri surrenders his Pakistani citizenship to get the nationality of a foreign country, he becomes ineligible to stand in the elections. “If he acquires the nationality of another country while retaining Pakistani citizenship, he is qualified to vie for an elected office.”
July 1, 2021
ISLAMABAD: Nearly 900 candidates have filed nomination papers to compete for 45 seats of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly (AJKLA) in the general elections to be held on July 25.
“The precise number of aspirants will be available on July 2 after the withdrawal of candidatures by the contestants. The final list of candidates will be published on July 3,” AJK Election Commission (AJKEC) Secretary Sardar Ghazanfar told The News from Muzaffarabad when contacted.
He said the AJKEC was fully geared up to hold the polls in a fair, free and transparent manner. He said suitable security arrangements were being taken to conduct the exercise in a peaceful fashion. The paramilitary Rangers will be deployed to assist the police to provide a safe and secure environment to voters. The secretary said the AJKEC has been disbursed the required funds by the authorities and it faces no financial problem.