GUJRAT: The PML-Q, PML-N, PPP and JI have fielded their candidates on Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly, LA-38, Jammu 5, but the main contest is expected between Akbar Ibrahim of the PML-Q and Zeeshan Younis of the PML-N as both of them belong to the Tanda area of Gujrat where there is a huge chunk of voters.

Eleven candidates, including seven independents, are in the race. The polling is rescheduled for Aug 2 by the AJK election commission while the earlier date was July 27.LA-38 comprises Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin and Wazirabad districts. The total number of registered voters in the constituency is 50,225 with the highest number of voters in Gujrat at 35,787, followed by 11,227 in Wazirabad and 3,191 in Mandi Bahauddin.

Besides the two main contestants, the PPP’ s Raja Shahid Iqbal and JI’s Rana Umar Siddique are also campaigning.

Mr Ibrahim of the PML-Q has been contesting on the seat since 2001 and won for 03 times whereas candidates of other three parties too are contesting the seat for the second time.

Chaudhary Hussain Elahi has personally been running Ibahim’s campaign whereas former PML-N MNA Nawabzada Ghazanfar Gull and MPA Nawabzada Haider Mehdi are in the campaign.

The main battle field of LA-38 is the area of Tanda-Jalalpur Jattan where Chaudhary Wajahat Hussain and Nawabzada Ghazanfar Gull have been the traditional rivals. Ex-PPP MNA Sameena Fakhar Pagganwala has hosted an election meeting at her house for support of her party candidate whereas Punjab JI emir Dr Tariq Saleem and Gujrat emir Ansar Dhool advocate also addressing different gatherings to muster the support for the JI.

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2026