Iftikhar Gilani set to become AJK PM

The government has decided to nominate Barrister Iftikhar Gilani as the next prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

Gilani, who was elected to the AJK Legislative Assembly on a technocrat seat, has been finalised as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate for the top provincial office.

The decision was taken after important consultations at the Prime Minister’s House. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the meeting, where senior PML-N leaders discussed the formation of the new AJK government.

PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir and former AJK prime minister Raja Farooq Haider were among those involved in the consultations. Newly elected AJK Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq also attended the meeting.

Senator Rana Sanaullah and former federal minister Khawaja Saad Rafique were also present. Deputy Speaker Ahmed Raza Qadri and Barrister Iftikhar Gilani participated in the discussions as well.

The election for the new AJK prime minister has also been delayed by one day. The Legislative Assembly will now elect the prime minister on August 28.

Gilani’s nomination comes after the PML-N emerged as the leading force in the recent AJK elections. The party secured a strong position in the Legislative Assembly, paving the way for it to form the government.