MUZAFFARABAD (MNN); PML-N’s Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani was sworn in as the new prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Friday after securing a clear majority in the Legislative Assembly.
Gillani took oath at a televised ceremony following his election earlier in the day, where he secured 30 of the 44 votes cast. His only rival, PPP’s Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi, received 14 votes.
In his maiden address as prime minister, Gillani thanked PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the party’s senior leadership for placing their trust in him.
He pledged to honour that confidence and said he was prepared to work day and night to deliver on the expectations of the party and people of AJK.
Gillani called for cooperation from all members of the Legislative Assembly, saying the region needed collective efforts to build an AJK that could serve as an example for the rest of the world.
Identifying employment, education and healthcare as the main priorities of his government, the newly elected premier said people primarily worked to provide food for their families, secure better education for their children and meet medical expenses.
He said creating employment opportunities for young people would be a major focus, stressing that meaningful economic opportunities could help prevent youth from being diverted towards negative activities and provide them with a brighter future.
Gillani also acknowledged the need to improve hospitals and healthcare facilities across AJK, saying progress in these areas could help address many of the region’s social and economic challenges.
He expressed confidence that the PML-N majority in the assembly would combine the experience of senior lawmakers with the energy of younger members to accelerate development.
Gillani succeeded PPP’s Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, who had served as AJK prime minister since November 2025.
The AJK Assembly currently has 46 members, although its full strength is 53. Seven seats in Poonch and Sudhnoti districts remain vacant pending elections. Of the 44 votes cast on Friday, the speaker did not vote, while PML-N regional president Shah Ghulam Qadir was absent.
Qadir and former AJK premier Raja Farooq Haider had earlier expressed reservations over Gillani’s nomination. However, Haider later entered the assembly alongside Gillani when Friday’s proceedings began.
Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq announced Gillani’s victory after the votes were counted, amid applause and slogans from the galleries.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Gillani on his election and expressed hope that he would play an effective role in the development of AJK and the welfare of its people. He also reiterated the federal government’s commitment to providing all possible support for the region’s development, prosperity and improved living standards.
PPP’s Yasin Becomes Opposition Leader
Meanwhile, PPP regional president and senior parliamentarian Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin was appointed Leader of the Opposition in the AJK Legislative Assembly.
Assembly Secretary Amjed Latif Abbasi issued the notification after Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq approved the appointment under the relevant assembly rules.
Yasin has previously served as opposition leader from 2016 to 2021. He said the opposition would play a responsible role in strengthening democratic institutions and parliamentary traditions.
He said that despite PPP’s reservations regarding the recent general elections, the party believed in strengthening democratic institutions and would support government measures that served the public interest.
However, he pledged that the opposition would strongly resist decisions it considered harmful to the people of AJK.
PML-N’s Nomination of Gillani
Gillani’s nomination was formally announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif following a meeting with senior PML-N leaders from AJK at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad.
The decision reportedly caused disagreement among some senior regional leaders, particularly Shah Ghulam Qadir and Raja Farooq Haider, who had initially opposed Gillani’s nomination.
Speculation over Gillani’s elevation had intensified after he was elected to the AJK Assembly on a reserved seat on August 24.
AJK Election Results
The AJK general elections, originally scheduled for July 27, were conducted in three phases because of security concerns and unrest in parts of the region. Polling was held on July 27, August 2 and August 10.
In elections to 38 directly elected constituencies, PML-N secured 25 seats while PPP won 12. The sole elected member of the Awami Dast-o-Bazu party subsequently joined PML-N.
On reserved seats, PML-N secured six while PPP won two.
PPP has alleged widespread rigging and irregularities in the elections, claims that remain disputed.
