MUZAFFARABAD, (Parliament Times) : The Azad Jammu and Kashmir election commission has announced the schedule for the next general elections of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir legislative Assembly . Announcing the schedule at a news conference here on Thursday the Chief Election Commissioner of Azad Kashmir Justice( R) Abdul Rashid Sulehria said that direct elections of the 45 seats of the Azad Kashmir legislative assembly will be held on25th July 2021 0n Sunday. He said over 28 lakh and seventeen thousand registered voters of Azad Kashmir and over four lakh voters of Jammu and Kashmir refugees living in Pakistan will exercise their right of franchise to elect their representatives. According to schedule the last date for submission of nomination papers before the returning officers has been fixed 21st June while scrutiny of the nomination papers will take place on 22nd June and the list of the contesting candidates will be published on the same day. The appeals against the acceptance or rejections of nominations papers can be filed before the chief election commissioner on 27th June before 2 pm. The hearing on the appeals will be held on 28.6.2021 to 29.6.2021 from 9 am to 4pm while decisions on the appeals will be announced on 30.6.2021 and 1.7.2021 .The candidates can withdraw their nomination papers on 2.7.2021 while the final lists of the contesting candidates will be published on 3.7.2021 and next day the symbols will be allotted to contesting candidates. The chief Election Commissioner told media persons that the Election commission has issued a code of conduct in the light of recent approved legislation which will be applicable on the political parties, candidates and on the government as well to ensure the holding of free, fair and transparent elections in Azad Kashmir. In this regard he imposed a complete ban on the approval of developmental projects, inaugurations and foundation stone laying ceremonies and inspection of developmental projects in the state. The Election commission has also imposed a ban on the transformer promotion and on new appointments in all the government and semi governments’ institutions to ensure fair and impartial elections in the state , however The prior permission of the elections commission will be necessary in case of any transfer or appointment