The PML-N has nominated Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani as its candidate for the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) premiership, with the election scheduled for Friday.
The decision was announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a late-night meeting with four senior PML-N leaders from AJK at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The meeting was attended by PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir, former AJK premier Raja Farooq Haider, regional secretary general and assembly Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, and Deputy Speaker Ahmed Raza Qadri. The prime minister was accompanied by his adviser Rana Sanaullah and senior party leader Saad Rafique.
Mr Gillani was also invited to the meeting but did not attend. Prime Minister Shehbaz told the visiting leaders that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif had selected him as the party’s candidate for the AJK top slot.
The nomination, however, triggered opposition from Mr Qadir and Mr Haider, who reportedly expressed reservations over the decision and said they would not participate in Friday’s election.
Speculation over Mr Gillani’s nomination had intensified after he was elected to the AJK Assembly on a reserved seat on Aug 24. However, the party’s regional leadership had expected the PML-N to repeat the formula adopted in 2016, when Mr Haider was chosen as prime minister.
Following the reservations expressed by the two senior leaders, Mr Sanaullah and Mr Rafique held another meeting with them, but the talks failed to produce a breakthrough, sources said.
In a post-midnight message on X, Mr Qadir said he would not compromise on the “honour and dignity” of the people of Azad Kashmir, adding that Nawaz Sharif’s slogan of “respect for the vote” would be upheld.
On Thursday afternoon, PML-N central information secretary and Punjab senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said on X that Mr Sharif had formally finalised Mr Gillani as the party’s candidate and directed him to submit his nomination papers.
Mr Gillani will face PPP candidate Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi in Friday’s election.
The AJK Assembly has 53 seats, but its current strength stands at 46 as elections to seven constituencies in Poonch and Sudhnoti districts are yet to be held.
The PML-N and its allies currently command 32 seats, while the PPP has 14 lawmakers in the assembly.
According to Assembly Secretary Amjed Latif Abbasi, nomination papers will be submitted from 9:30am to 10:30am on Friday, followed by scrutiny at 10:45am. The list of candidates will be displayed at 11am, while candidates can withdraw their nominations until 11:30am. The final list will be issued at noon.
The assembly session for the election will begin at 2pm. Members will vote through the division process by proceeding individually to the lobby designated for their preferred candidate, where tellers will record their division numbers.
The speaker will then count the votes and declare as prime minister the candidate who secures the required majority.
Meanwhile, arrangements for Mr Gillani’s oath-taking ceremony have also been changed. The ceremony, initially planned at the High Court ground on the instructions of Mr Qadir, will now be held at the President’s House between 4pm and 5pm.
