PML-N’s Iftikhar Gillani takes oath as new AJK prime minister

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Barrister Iftikhar Gillani on Friday took oath as the new prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Acting AJK President Chaudhry Tariq Farooq administered the oath to Gillani. In today’s election for the leader of the house, the newly-elected PM secured 30 votes, a day after the PML-N nominated him as its candidate for the AJK prime minister’s post, Aaj News reported.

Gillani defeated Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Mukhtar Abbasi, who received 14 votes.

The voting took place during a session of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly convened to elect the new leader of the house.

The AJK Legislative Assembly has a total of 53 seats. However, seven seats from Poonch and Sudhnoti districts are currently vacant as elections have not been held there, leaving the effective strength of the House at 46 members.

The PML-N, along with its allies, enjoys the support of 32 members in the assembly, while the PPP has 14 members.

With 30 votes in his favour, Barrister Gillani was elected as the new prime minister of AJK.

In the voting today, 44 members cast their votes. PML-N lawmaker Shah Ghulam Qadir did not come to the assembly to cast his vote, while PPP’s Bazal Ali Naqvi also did not vote.

All proceedings related to the election of the new prime minister were completed at the Secretariat of the AJK Legislative Assembly.

After taking the oath, Gillani thanked the PML-N leadership including Nawaz, PM Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. He also vowed to create employments and provide better health facilities to the people of the region.

The newly-elected premier was first elected to the AJK Legislative Assembly in 2011. He earlier also served as education minister in AJK.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Gillani on being elected as the AJK premier, saying the credit for the PML-N’s success went to the efforts of party supremo Nawaz Sharif and workers.

“I am hopeful that Barrister Iftikhar Gillani will fully play his role for the welfare and development of the AJK,” he added.

PM Shehbaz said the federal government would continue every possible cooperation to improve the standard of life, prosperity and development of the people of AJK. The continuation of democracy is welcoming in AJK, he maintained.