LAHORE/MUZAFFARABAD: PML-N President Nawaz Sharif chaired a party meeting to discuss AJK government formation and potential candidates for the prime ministerial slot, as six candidates contest five women’s reserved seats in the Legislative Assembly today.

The meeting also deliberated on the country’s overall political situation, the health of PTI founder Imran Khan, and recent decisions handed down by the Supreme Court.

PML-N leaders Shah Ghulam Qadir and Tariq Farooq have emerged as the primary contenders for the top office. Sources said that one of the two is likely to be nominated as the party’s candidate for prime minister.

PML-N finalises strategy for reserved seats polls; legislative assembly to meet today; six candidates vying for five women’s constituencies

The meeting also focused on the party’s future political strategy and key decision-making processes. The PML-N leadership has previously held multiple rounds of consultations on AJK government formation as part of its ongoing efforts to consolidate its political strategy in the region.

Election strategy finalised

Meanwhile, the parliamentary party of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) met to finalise its strategy for Monday’s election to the seven reserved seats of the AJK Legislative Assembly.

The meeting was chaired by PML-N AJK president Shah Ghulam Qadir and was also attended by Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Senator Anusha Rahman.

The meeting expressed full confidence in the leadership of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

According to a resolution adopted at the meeting, the parliamentary party reiterated its commitment to working for the development of AJK, supremacy of the Constitution and law, and restoration of merit and justice in accordance with Mr Nawaz’s vision.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to the ideology of accession to Pakistan and the slogan “Kashmir Banega Pakistan”.

The resolution expressed full support for the measures taken by the Pakistan armed forces, under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, against the country’s internal and external enemies, and satisfaction over Pakistan’s recognition at the international level.

The meeting resolved that the incoming AJK government would make every effort to improve law and order, revive the stalled process of development and formulate comprehensive policies for the welfare of the people.

It also expressed confidence in the electoral process held in AJK and congratulated the Chief Election Commissioner and administration for conducting the elections.

On the Kashmir dispute, the resolution expressed concern over the situation in India-held Jammu and Kashmir and called upon the international community to take notice of what it termed Indian war crimes in the territory.

It said India had illegally revoked the special status of occupied Kashmir in 2019 in violation of UN and Security Council resolutions and accused New Delhi of misleading the international community about the situation in the region.

The meeting paid tribute to the Kashmiri people for their “unprecedented sacrifices” and steadfastness in their struggle for the right to self-determination.

It also appreciated the political, moral and diplomatic support extended by the people and government of Pakistan to the Kashmiri people.

The meeting rejected remarks about Kashmir attributed to the US ambassador to India and demanded that the Kashmir dispute be resolved in accordance with UN resolutions.

Reserved seats for women

On the other hand, six candidates will contest five seats reserved for women in the AJK Legislative Assembly today, according to the final list issued by the Election Commission on Sunday.

The candidates in the fray are PML-N’s Riffat Abid, Sehrish Qamar, Maryam Idrees and Maryam Zaman, also known as Maryam Kashmiri, and PPP’s Farzana Yaqoob and Zobia Khurshid Raja.

Seven candidates had originally filed nomination papers for the five women’s seats. However, PPP candidate Shaheen Kosar Dar withdrew her nomination papers on the day fixed for withdrawals under the election schedule, the Election Commission Spokesperson Raja Muhammad Shakeel said.

For the seat reserved for Ulema and Mashaikh, PPP’s Hafiz Tariq Mahmood will face PML-N’s Mohammad Mazhar Saeed.

Similarly, PML-N’s Barrister Syed Iftikhar Gillani and PPP’s Sahibzada Zulfiqar Ali will contest the seat reserved for technocrats and professionals.

PML-N’s Chaudhry Abdul Rehman Arain was the only candidate to have submitted his nomination papers for the seat reserved for state subjects residing abroad. He was consequently declared elected unopposed.

Polling for the women’s, Ulema and Mashaikh, and technocrats and professionals’ seats will be held on Monday (today) from 10am to 1pm at the Assembly Hall in Muzaffarabad.

As the inaugural session of the incoming Legislative Assembly has already been summoned for 2pm on Monday, shortly after the announcement of the results, all newly elected members will take an oath at the hands of outgoing Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar, who failed to retain his seat in the elections.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2026