MUZAFFARABAD, Oct 4: Elections for four seats of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council (AJKC) will be held here on Oct 27, AJK Chief Election Commissioner Justice Reaz Akhtar Chaudhry announced here on Monday.

The AJK Council consists of six members who are elected by the AJK Legislative Assembly members through the proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.

The tenure of the elected AJKC members is five years which begins from the day of their entering upon the office. The term of four members — three belonging to People’s Party and one to the ruling Muslim Conference — expired on Oct 2, necessitating the election against their seats within 30 days of the vacancy.

Given its majority in the sitting assembly, the ruling Muslim Conference is set to clinch three seats while the fourth one will go to the opposition People’s Party.

According to the schedule announced by the CEC through a handout, nomination papers, available in the central office of the AJK Election Commission in Muzaffarabad, could be filed before the returning officer on Oct 19 from 8 am to 2 pm in the administration block of the AJK Legislative Assembly building, which would be scrutinised on the following day.

Appeals against acceptance or rejection of the nomination papers could be filed before the CEC in the central office here on Oct 21 which would be heard by him on Oct 22 whereas a decision would be announced the same afternoon or the following day.

The nomination papers could be withdrawn on Oct 24 following which the final list of candidates would be issued next morning.

According to the handout, polling would be held in the assembly chambers from 10am to 3pm on Oct 27 and counting of votes would start immediately after that.

Election commissioner Sheikh Mohammad Nasim and secretary Election Commission Iftikhar Naveed have been appointed polling officer and returning officer, respectively, by the CEC.