PML-N’s Iftikhar Gillani elected 17th AJK prime minister

MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominee Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani was elected the 17th prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly on Friday.

He defeated Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Khan Abbasi in the Legislative Assembly election.

According to HUM News, of the 44 votes polled, Barrister Iftikhar Gillani secured 30, while PPP’s Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi received 14 votes.

The AJK Legislative Assembly comprises 53 members, but its current strength stands at 46 as elections to seven seats in the Poonch and Sudhnoti districts have yet to be held.

The PML-N and its allies currently have 32 members, while the PPP has 14 lawmakers in the assembly.

Gillani’s election comes just weeks after he lost the LA-29 Muzaffarabad-III general election to Abbasi, before returning to the AJK Assembly through a reserved technocrat seat.

The newly elected prime minister will take oath at a ceremony to be held at the President House in Muzaffarabad shortly.

The election was held during a session of the AJK Legislative Assembly on Friday, with lawmakers casting their votes to choose the region’s new chief executive.

Gillani’s election also comes amid reported reservations within the PML-N over his nomination for the top slot.

Former AJK prime minister and senior PML-N leader Raja Farooq Haider, who had announced that he would not vote for Gillani, nevertheless arrived at the assembly alongside the newly nominated leader of the house.

The appearance of Haider alongside Gillani attracted considerable attention in political circles, given his earlier decision not to support the PML-N nominee.

Gillani arrived at the assembly accompanied by Haider ahead of the session in which he was ultimately elected prime minister.

Gillani’s political comeback

Gillani contested the August 2 AJK general election from LA-29 Muzaffarabad-III on a PML-N ticket but was defeated by PPP’s Mukhtar Abbasi.

Abbasi secured 20,045 votes, while Gillani received 16,507.

Gillani subsequently returned to the assembly through the reserved seats process.

In the August 24 election for a seat reserved for technocrats and professionals, he secured 26 votes, defeating PPP candidate Sahibzada Zulfiqar Ali, who received 12 votes.

His return to the legislature paved the way for his nomination as the PML-N candidate for the premiership.

Earlier, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif had nominated Gillani for the top office following consultations within the party.

The decision had reportedly triggered reservations among some senior PML-N figures in AJK, including Shah Ghulam Qadir, who had himself been considered a strong contender for the premiership.

Despite the reported differences, the party proceeded with Gillani’s nomination and he has now secured the region’s top elected office.

Gillani’s victory gives the PML-N control of the top constitutional executive office as the new AJK government moves towards cabinet formation.

Cabinet formation next

Following the election and oath-taking of the new prime minister, consultations are expected to begin on the formation of the AJK cabinet and allocation of key portfolios.

The distribution of major constitutional offices has also been shaped by considerations of regional representation.

The speakership has already gone to the Mirpur division, while the premiership has now gone to the Muzaffarabad division.

The presidency is expected to go to the Poonch division, although the presidential election has yet to be held because of the prevailing law and order situation.

Gillani’s election thus marks a remarkable political turnaround for the PML-N leader, who has gone from losing a general election to returning to the assembly through a reserved seat and securing the AJK premiership within the same month.