New AJK Assembly members take oath as PML-N strengthens position

Newly elected members of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly took oath on Monday, formally beginning the functioning of the new 53-member house after the completion of elections on reserved seats.

Outgoing Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar administered the oath to the newly elected members at a ceremony held at the assembly. The PML-N emerged with the strongest position in the new house after securing six of the eight reserved seats, taking its total to 31. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won two reserved seats and has 14 members.

Following an alliance with one member of the Awami Dast-o-Bazu, the PML-N’s effective strength has risen to 32.

The new assembly comprises 45 general and eight reserved seats. The results of the reserved-seat elections completed the process of forming the new house.

An interesting contest took place on a women’s reserved seat when PPP’s Zubia Khursheed and PML-N’s Riffat Abid received an equal number of votes. The winner was decided through a draw, with Khursheed winning the toss and securing the seat. With the oath-taking completed, the process of government formation in AJK has moved forward. The election of the speaker and deputy speaker is expected on Tuesday, while the election of the new AJK prime minister is expected on August 27.

Earlier PML-N President Nawaz Sharif chaired a meeting to discuss government formation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and potential candidates for the prime minister’s office. Shah Ghulam Qadir and Tariq Farooq emerged as the leading contenders, with one of them expected to be nominated as the party’s candidate.

The meeting also discussed the party’s strategy for elections to the reserved seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly. The PML-N parliamentary party in AJK had earlier finalised its strategy and expressed confidence in the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

The party said the incoming AJK government would focus on improving law and order, reviving development projects and introducing policies aimed at public welfare. It also reiterated its commitment to constitutional supremacy, merit and justice.

The elections have completed the process of forming the new 53-member assembly and pave the way for the election of the speaker, deputy speaker and prime minister.