Nawaz Sharif nominates Dr Najeeb Naqi for AJK presidency

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif has nominated Dr Muhammad Najeeb Naqi for the office of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Wednesday.

"PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif nominated Dr Naqi for the AJK president slot," she said in a post on X. Marriyum said that Dr Naqi has been directed to submit his nomination papers for the presidential election.

She also extended her congratulations to Dr Naqi on behalf of the party on his nomination and expressed her best wishes for him.

The election for the post will be held on September 24, according to the AJK Election Commission.

Since Barrister Sultan Mahmood passed away in January, the office of the AJK president has remained vacant. Chaudhry Latif Akbar, then Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, performed the duties of acting president until incumbent Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq assumed the role after being elected Speaker on August 25.

Unveiling the election schedule at a media briefing on Tuesday, Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal said nomination papers would be filed with the returning officer on September 19 between 10am and 12noon and scrutiny would be conducted the same day.

Justice (retd) Mughal said candidates could withdraw their nomination papers by 11:30am on September 23.

Polling would be held at the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly Secretariat on September 24 from 10am to 1pm.

The vote count and result announcement would be made the same day after completion of polling.

Justice (Retd) Mughal said the president would be elected by majority vote. Senior Member of the Election Commission Khawaja Muhammad Ahsan and Member Syed Nazir-ul-Hassan Gilani were also present on the occasion.