PPP, JUI-F form alliance for AJK general elections

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on Sunday announced a political alliance for the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) general elections, agreeing on a seat-sharing arrangement under which both parties will support each other's candidates.

The announcement was made during a joint press conference at Kashmir House in Islamabad by PPP AJK President Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin and JUI-F AJK chief Maulana Saeed Yousaf.

Under the agreement, the PPP will withdraw two of its candidates in favour of Maulana Saeed Yousaf, who will contest as the joint candidate of both parties in constituencies LA-14 Dhirkot and LA-23. PPP leaders said candidates, including Nabila Ayub, would withdraw their nomination papers in support of the alliance.

Yasin described the agreement as a significant development in AJK politics and said the alliance would benefit both parties as well as the region.

Maulana Saeed Yousaf said the PPP would support JUI-F in two constituencies, while JUI-F would back PPP candidates in all remaining constituencies. He added that JUI-F candidates had filed nomination papers in 13 constituencies and appealed to them to withdraw in favour of PPP nominees.

Separately, Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman met JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman in Islamabad to discuss the situation in AJK.