Barrister Iftikhar Gilani Elected 17th Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, PML-N Secures Victory
Muzaffarabad: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Barrister Iftikhar Gilani has been elected as the 17th Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir after securing a clear majority in the Legislative Assembly vote.
PPP’s nominated candidate Sardar Mukhtar Khan received 14 votes. With Gilani’s victory, the process of forming a PML-N-led government in Azad Kashmir has been completed.
Key Election Results
- Winner: PML-N’s Barrister Iftikhar Gilani was elected Leader of the House with 30 votes.
- Opposition: PPP candidate Sardar Mukhtar Khan secured 14 votes.
- Vote difference: Gilani received two fewer votes than the 32 secured by the PML-N’s Speaker and Deputy Speaker.
- Notable absence: PML-N Azad Kashmir President Shah Ghulam Qadir did not attend the Assembly session.
“This Will Be an Era for the People of Kashmir”
In his first remarks after being elected Prime Minister, Barrister Iftikhar Gilani said public welfare would be his government’s foremost priority.
“This will be an era for the people of Kashmir. The government will now truly belong to the people, and every citizen of the state will witness this positive change.”
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz Congratulate Gilani
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Barrister Iftikhar Gilani on his election and welcomed the continuation of the democratic process in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
He attributed the victory to the political vision of Nawaz Sharif and the tireless efforts of party workers, reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to providing full support for development and public welfare in the region.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also congratulated the newly elected Prime Minister, members of the Assembly and the people of Kashmir, saying that under Nawaz Sharif’s leadership, Azad Kashmir was entering a new era of development and sustainable prosperity.