Tough three-way contest in AJK’s LA-39 Jammu 6

Jammu 6 consists of Rawalpindi Division and some areas of KP. The majority of votes in Jammu 6 are in District Jhelum and the tehsils of District

Only a few days are left in the Azad Kashmir elections. Candidates are busy with the election campaign day and night. After the PTI boycott, more than 10 candidates are in the field in Constituency LA-39 Jammu 6.

Jammu 6 consists of Rawalpindi Division and some areas of KP. The majority of votes in Jammu 6 are in District Jhelum and the tehsils of District Rawalpindi: Gujarkhan, Kallar Syedan and Kahuta.

Among the candidates are PPP’s Chaudhry Fakhar Zaman, Muslim Conference’s Abdul Khateeb Chaudhry, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Mirza Tajamal Jaral, and PML-N’s former Member Assembly Raja Sadiq, along with independents and candidates from other parties.

Looking at ground realities, it appears that the contest will be between Muslim Conference’s Abdul Khateeb Chaudhry, PML-N’s Raja Sadiq and PPP’s Chaudhry Fakhar Zaman.

PPP’s Fakhar Zaman not only has a specific circle of supporters but also has party votes. Chaudhry Fakhar Zaman is contesting elections for the third time. Raja Sadiq has been winning elections from this same constituency for the last three decades.

This time Muslim Conference has given the ticket to Abdul Khateeb Chaudhry. Abdul Khateeb Chaudhry has experience in local government, and is also the Chief Editor of a local newspaper and Chief Executive of a media group. Public circles are appreciating Abdul Khateeb Chaudhry for running a strong election campaign. Due to Raja Sadiq’s poor performance in the last five years, it appears quite difficult for him to get votes.

Overall, the Pakistan Peoples Party seems to have the upper hand in Azad Kashmir. If the PPP wins 4/5 out of the 12 seats for refugees, then the Pakistan Peoples Party will secure a simple majority in Azad Kashmir.