PML-N's Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani elected as new AJK prime minister

Muzaffarabad witnessed the election of PML-N's barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani as the new prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Friday. Gillani emerged victorious with a majority of 30 votes out of the 44 cast in the assembly, while his main opponent, PPP's Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi, received 14 votes. The AJK Assembly currently consists of 46 members, with PML-N holding 32 seats and PPP holding 14, due to unresolved elections in seven seats in Poonch and Sudhnoti districts.

Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq declared Gillani as the winner during the vote counting, accompanied by applause and chants from the audience. Despite opposition from PPP's Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi and former AJK premier Raja Farooq Haider, the final decision was made following a meeting with PML-N leaders in Islamabad. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced Gillani's nomination for the post, which faced criticism from Qadir and Haider but was agreed upon by the party's regional leadership.

PML-N's decision to nominate Gillani was communicated by Shehbaz Sharif to the senior party leaders during a meeting at the Prime Minister's House. Although Qadir and Haider initially withdrew from the election process, they later reassured the public of their commitment to protect the dignity of the people of AJK. The PML-N secured 25 seats out of the 38 direct elections held so far, while the PPP won 12, with the remaining seats going to the Awami Dast-o-Bazu party.