Nawaz Sharif backs Iftikhar Gilani for AJK premiership

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif has nominated Barrister Iftikhar Gilani as the party’s

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif has nominated Barrister Iftikhar Gilani as the party’s candidate for prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Nawaz Sharif has instructed Gilani to submit his nomination papers for the election of the AJK prime minister.

The decision was confirmed by PML-N Central Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb.

Aurangzeb said Gilani’s nomination was made after receiving approval from Nawaz Sharif. She said the party leadership had formally decided to support his candidature for the top political office in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Barrister Iftikhar Gilani is a member of the AJK Legislative Assembly. He was elected on a technocrat seat.

His nomination puts him at the centre of the upcoming political process in the territory. The election for the AJK prime minister is scheduled to take place on August 28.

The PML-N leadership is now expected to mobilise its members and complete the required parliamentary process ahead of the election.

The prime minister of AJK is elected by members of the Legislative Assembly. The upcoming vote will determine who leads the territory’s government for the next phase.

Gilani’s nomination also signals the PML-N leadership’s choice as political consultations intensify ahead of the election.

The party has formally asked its nominee to complete the nomination process. Further developments are expected as candidates submit their papers and the assembly moves towards the scheduled vote.