Gillani becomes AJK PM after winning over ‘old guard’
• Secures 30 votes against 14 garnered by PPP candidate
• Pledges focus on jobs, merit, transparency, digital economy
• Raja Farooq Haider attends session after Gillani personally drives to his residence
• PPP’s Chaudhry Yasin appointed opposition leader
MUZAFFARABAD: PML-N’s Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani was sworn in as Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s prime minister on Friday after overcoming reservations within the party over his nomination, winning 30 votes against 14 secured by PPP candidate Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi.
Taking the floor of the Legislative Assembly after his election, Mr Gillani acknowledged that the region was passing through challenging times and outlined employment generation, merit-based recruitment, transparency, digital economy and curbing corruption as key priorities of his government.
Mr Gillani, 46, also expressed distress over the delay in elections to seven seats in Poonch and Sudhnoti districts, hoping that the polls would soon be held and the assembly attain its full strength.
He said efforts would be made to create as many jobs as possible in the private sector so that the younger generation was not distracted by divisive elements into negative activities.
“I assure my people that merit and transparency in recruitments will reign supreme in our government,” he said, adding that the digital economy would also be a focus of his administration.
The prime minister-elect said he would ask his political colleagues and the bureaucracy to identify the wrongs and shortcomings that needed to be addressed to put the region on the right course. “Until then, I will neither sit at ease myself nor allow my team,” he said.
Declaring zero tolerance for corruption and bribery, Mr Gillani announced that his government would launch a citizen portal, “Bolo Kashmir”, to enable people to convey their grievances directly to the government.
He also assured the opposition that its criticism would be welcomed if it was aimed at reform.
“Your identification of wrongdoings will help us take corrective measures,” he said. “We will move forward in the light of senior leadership’s experience and guidance, the ability and energy of the younger generation and the power to adapt to the rapidly changing world.”
The AJK Assembly comprises 53 members, but its present strength is 46 — 32 belonging to the PML-N and its allies and 14 to the PPP — as elections to seven seats in Poonch and Sudhnoti are yet to be held.
However, 44 votes were polled in Friday’s election as Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq did not vote and PML-N regional president Shah Ghulam Qadir was absent.
Mr Qadir and former premier Raja Farooq Haider had initially reacted strongly to Mr Gillani’s nomination and indicated that they would not attend the session.
However, moments before the commencement of the session, Mr Haider entered the house alongside Mr Gillani. It emerged that the prime minister-designate himself drove an official jeep to Mr Haider’s residence in Muzaffarabad’s old city soon after Friday prayers and brought him to the assembly.
Mr Qadir, who was rumoured to attend the session, told Dawn that he was at his residence in Banigala and had no plans to attend.
After the votes were counted, Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq announced Mr Gillani’s victory amid applause and slogans from the galleries.
PPP’s Mr Abbasi, PML-N ally Sajid Iqbal Abbasi, PPP regional president Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, Mr Haider and outgoing prime minister Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore addressed the house to felicitate the newly elected leader.
Several speakers called for serious efforts to address the situation in Poonch, warning that unrest in the area could benefit India.
Mr Gillani was later sworn in at a ceremony at the presidency, where the oath was administered by Acting President Chaudhry Tariq Farooq.
Among those present were Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s adviser on political affairs Rana Sanaullah and federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.
Addressing the ceremony, the new premier said the government would focus on employment opportunities for youth and improvement of hospitals, adding: “If we address these things to even a minor extent, many of our tensions will be resolved.”
In a statement, PM Shehbaz congratulated Mr Gillani on his election and expressed hope that he would play an effective role in the development of AJK and welfare of its people. CM Maryam also congratulated Mr Gillani, members of the AJK Assembly and the people of the region on his election.
Yasin named opposition leader
Meanwhile, PPP regional president and senior parliamentarian Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin was appointed Leader of the Opposition in the AJK Legislative Assembly on Friday.
According to a notification issued by Assembly Secretary Amjed Latif Abbasi, Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq approved his appointment under Rule 17(1), sub-rule (3) of the Rules of Procedure.
Mr Yasin, who turned 69 early this year, is assuming the office for the second time. He previously served as Leader of the Opposition during the PML-N government from 2016 to 2021.
In a statement, he said the opposition had a vital role to play in a democratic society and pledged to perform the role responsibly.
“Although we have serious reservations about the recent general elections, being a democratic party, we believe in strengthening democratic institutions. We will play our role in further strengthening the AJK Assembly and leave behind healthy democratic traditions,” he said.
With the election of the Leader of the House and appointment of the Leader of the Opposition, the parliamentary setup in AJK has been completed.
Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2026
