MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly will elect a new prime minister today (Friday), with the ruling PML-N nominating Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani for the top provincial office.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Gillani’s nomination during a meeting with senior PML-N leaders from AJK at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad on Wednesday night.
The meeting included PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir, former AJK premier Raja Farooq Haider, Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq and Deputy Speaker Ahmed Raza Qadri.
Shehbaz was joined by his aide Rana Sanaullah and senior PML-N leader Saad Rafique during the meeting.
Gillani also received an invitation to attend the meeting but did not participate. Shehbaz informed the visiting leaders that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif had selected Gillani as the party’s candidate for the AJK premiership.
PML-N Leaders React to Gillani Nomination
The decision reportedly triggered disagreement from Shah Ghulam Qadir and Raja Farooq Haider. Both leaders announced that they would not participate in Friday’s election process.
Speculation about Gillani’s possible nomination had increased after he won a reserved seat in the AJK Assembly on August 24.
However, regional PML-N leaders had expected the party to follow the political formula used in 2016, when Raja Farooq Haider became AJK prime minister.
Following the disagreement, Rana Sanaullah and Saad Rafique held another meeting with Qadir and Haider. However, the discussions failed to resolve the differences, according to sources.
Qadir later posted a message on X, assuring the people of Azad Kashmir that he would not compromise on their honour and dignity.
Meanwhile, PML-N central information secretary and Punjab senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed on Thursday that Nawaz Sharif had finalised Gillani as the party’s candidate.
She said Sharif had directed Gillani to submit his nomination papers for the election.
Gillani will face Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi in the contest.
PML-N Holds Majority in AJK Assembly
The AJK Legislative Assembly has 53 seats. However, its current strength stands at 46 because elections to seven constituencies in Poonch and Sudhnoti districts remain pending.
The PML-N currently commands 32 members, including its allies, while the PPP has 14 lawmakers.
The numbers give the PML-N a clear advantage in Friday’s election and make Gillani the frontrunner for the premiership.
According to Assembly Secretary Amjed Latif Abbasi, candidates will submit nomination papers between 9:30am and 10:30am. Officials will scrutinise the papers at 10:45am and display the list of candidates at 11am.
Candidates can withdraw their nominations until 11:30am. Authorities will then issue the final list at noon.
The assembly will meet at 2pm to conduct the election.
Members will vote through a division process. Those supporting a particular candidate will move in single file through the assembly entrance to the designated lobby of that candidate.
Tellers will record the division numbers of members before the speaker counts the votes.
The speaker will then declare the candidate securing the required majority as the new AJK prime minister.
Gillani Oath Ceremony Shifted
Meanwhile, authorities have changed arrangements for Gillani’s expected oath-taking ceremony.
Earlier, Shah Ghulam Qadir had directed officials to prepare the High Court ground for the event. The ceremony will now take place at the President’s House between 4pm and 5pm.
The election is expected to formally establish the new AJK government after the recent assembly polls and the emergence of the PML-N as the dominant parliamentary force.
