Barrister Iftikhar Gilani elected 17th AJK prime minister
Gilani won after PML-N secured a majority in the assembly, while rival Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi got 14 votes, officials said.
- On Friday, the AJK Legislative Assembly elected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz candidate Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani as prime minister, securing 30 of 44 votes against Pakistan Peoples Party candidate Sardar Mukhtar Ahmad Khan Abbasi's 14.
- PML-N secured a majority in elections held between July 27 and August 10, winning 25 of 45 directly contested constituencies, prompting Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to nominate Gillani for the office following party consultations.
- Internal party divisions surfaced when PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir expressed reservations about the selection and boycotted Friday's session, refusing to vote or attend proceedings; former AJK prime minister Raja Farooq Haider also conveyed reservations.
- Gillani, a barrister who previously served as education minister, was inducted into the assembly on a technocrat seat despite losing the 2026 election for that position.
- The result marks PML-N's return to power in the region after a decade, as the PPP rejected federal coalition offers and decided to sit on opposition benches.
16 Articles
16 Articles
Iftikhar Gillani elected PoK PM after polls marred by protests, rigging claims
Barrister Iftikhar Ali Gillani was elected prime minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Friday. He secured 30 votes in the legislative assembly while his challenger received 14 votes. Recent elections were marred by violent protests and widespread allegations of rigging. Gillani was elected on a reserved seat after losing a direct contest. Protests against reserved seats continue, potentially escalating after this election.
Iftikhar Gillani elected PoK prime minister amid protests, rigging allegations
PML-N leader Iftikhar Ali Gillani was elected the so-called prime minister of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in Muzaffarabad. The outcome has sharpened tensions over reserved seats, pending polls and rigging allegations amid continuing protests.
The Toronto Star
Lawmakers in Pakistan-administered Kashmir elect ruling party candidate as prime minister
MUZAFFARABAD, Pakistan (AP) — Lawmakers in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Friday elected Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani as prime minister after he secured 30 of 44 votes cast in the legislative assembly, the election commission and regional officials said.
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