Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif has formally nominated Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani as the party’s candidate for prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), party Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb announced Thursday.
The announcement follows high-level consultations on government formation held at the Prime Minister’s House, where Gilani’s name was finalised for the region’s top constitutional office.
Nomination Papers Directed for Filing
According to Aurangzeb, Nawaz Sharif has directed Gilani to submit his nomination papers for the AJK prime ministerial election. The AJK Legislative Assembly is scheduled to elect the new prime minister on August 28.
Gilani, who was elected to the AJK Assembly on a technocrat seat, emerged as the consensus choice after deliberations among senior party leadership.
Consultations at the Prime Minister’s House
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a key meeting earlier to discuss the formation of the new government in AJK. The session brought together prominent PML-N figures, including:
- Senator Rana Sanaullah
- Khawaja Saad Rafique
- PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir
- Former AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider
Newly elected AJK Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, Deputy Speaker Ahmed Raza Qadri, and Gilani were also present at the meeting.
Government Formation and Priorities Discussed
The meeting focused on critical decisions regarding the formation of the PML-N government in AJK and the party’s future parliamentary strategy. Participants also deliberated on the composition of the new cabinet, government priorities, good governance initiatives, and measures to improve administrative functioning.
The nomination of Gilani signals the PML-N’s intent to consolidate its position in AJK ahead of the assembly vote, with the party aiming to secure a smooth transition of power in the region.
