ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has finalised and issued party tickets for 37 constituencies of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly, setting the stage for the upcoming elections scheduled for July 27.

According to a formal notification issued on the recommendations of the PML-N Parliamentary Board, the party has awarded tickets across all major regions, including Mirpur, Bhimber, Kotli, Poonch, Muzaffarabad, Neelum, Haveli and refugee constituencies based in Pakistan.

The selection process was finalised after a series of meetings of the parliamentary board under the supervision of the party leadership, where veteran politicians, regional power brokers and new entrants were accommodated in the final list.

Former AJK prime minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan has been awarded the ticket for LA-32 Chikar, which is considered his traditional stronghold.

Opposition leader Shah Ghulam Qadir has been fielded from both Upper and Lower Neelum Valley constituencies (LA-25 and LA-26), reflecting the party’s strategy to strengthen its position in the region.

Senior party leader Chaudhry Tariq Farooq will contest from LA-07 Bhimber City, while Sardar Abdul Khaliq Wasi has been nominated from Mirpur. Malik Muhammad Yusuf will contest from Kotli, and Sardar Amir Altaf has retained the ticket from Poonch. Khawaja Muhammad Aziz has been fielded from Haveli.

For refugee constituencies based in Pakistan, Raja Muhammad Siddique has been nominated from LA-39 Jammu-1, while Muhammad Ahmed Raza Qadri will contest from LA-44 Kashmir Valley refugee seat.

The complete list of candidates includes nominees across constituencies in Mirpur, Kotli, Bhimber, Poonch, Muzaffarabad, Neelum, Haveli and Jammu regions, as the party looks to secure a strong position in the upcoming polls.

The elections for the 37-seat AJK Legislative Assembly are expected to be closely contested among major political parties, with campaigning set to intensify in the coming weeks.