PML-N's Young Hopeful Takes Center Stage in AJK PM Election
By Editor • August 28, 2026 • 1 min read
In a pivotal moment for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the Legislative Assembly is poised to elect a new prime minister today, with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominating a fresh face for the role. Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani has emerged as the party's candidate, a move orchestrated by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a strategic meeting with senior party officials on Wednesday night in Islamabad.
The meeting included prominent figures such as PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir and former premier Raja Farooq Haider, though Gillani himself was absent. Prime Minister Sharif revealed that the party's leader, Nawaz Sharif, had backed Gillani’s nomination, despite mixed reactions from senior party members.
Notably, both Qadir and Haider expressed their concerns regarding the nomination, declaring their intention to abstain from the election process. Tensions escalated as Qadir assured the people of AJK on social media that he would uphold their dignity, aligning with Nawaz Sharif's commitment to respecting the vote.
Gillani will contend against the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi in a legislative body currently comprising 46 members, with PML-N holding 32 seats. The election process will unfold with nominations this morning, followed by voting in the afternoon, where the candidate securing a majority will be declared the new prime minister.
Plans for Gillani’s oath-taking ceremony have also shifted, now set to be held at the President’s House later today.
Source: www.dawn.com
