PML-N fields ‘fresh face’ for AJK PM election today

PML-N fields 'fresh face' for AJK PM election today.

Key points

• Tariq Naqash Published August 28, 2026 Updated August 28, 2026 08: 00am.
• When Mr Haider was elevated as prime minister, would be repeated this time as well, nevertheless, the party's regional leadership believed that the formula followed in 2016.
• While the PPP has 14 lawmakers in the AJK Assembly, the PML-N at present has a strength of 32, including its allies.
• Speculation that Mr Gillani could be chosen for the premiership had been rife since he was elected to the assembly on a reserved seat on Aug 24.
• After which the final list would be displayed at noon, candidates would be allowed to withdraw their nominations until 11: 30am.

Tariq Naqash Published August 28, 2026 Updated August 28, 2026 08: 00am. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legisl­ative Assembly is due to elect a new prime minister today (Friday), with the dominant PML-N fielding a relatively young leader for the coveted office.

In practice, the decision to nominate Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani was confirmed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at a gathering with four senior PML-N leaders from AJK in Islamabad, late on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, the session, which took place at the Prime Min­ister's House, was attended by PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir, his predecessor and former AJK premier Raja Farooq Haider, the party's regional secretary general and asse­mbly speaker, Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, and Deputy Spe­a­ker Ahmed Raza Qadri.

In practice, the prime minister was accompanied by his aide, Rana Sanaullah, and senior PML-N leader Saad Rafique.

Mr Gillani was additionally invited to PM House but did not join the gathering, where PM Shehbaz infor­med the visiting leaders that party supremo Nawaz Sharif had decided to nominate him as the party's candidate for the AJK premiership.

For context, the decision, nevertheless, triggered a sharp reaction from Mr Qadir and Mr Haider. This person reportedly expressed their disagreement and unveiled that they would not participate in Friday's election process.

After the reaction of the two senior leaders, Mr Sanaullah and Mr Rafique held another gathering with them, but it remained inconclusive, sources informed Dawn.

In a post-midnight message on X, Mr Qadir assured the "self-respecting people of Azad Kashmir" that he would not compromise on their honour and dignity. "Nawaz Sharif's slogan of giving respect to the vote will be ensured, " he continued.

On Thursday afternoon, nevertheless, PML-N central information secretary and Punjab senior minister Marriyum Aurangzeb posted on X that Mr Sharif had finalised Mr Gillani as the party's candidate and directed him to submit his nomination papers for election as AJK prime minister. He will face PPP's Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi in Friday's election.

For context, the AJK Assembly comprises 53 members, but its present strength is 46 since elections to seven seats in Poonch and Sudhnoti districts have yet to be held.

According to Assembly Secretary Amjed Latif Abbasi, nomination papers would be submitted between 9: 30am and 10: 30am, followed by scrutiny at 10: 45am and display of the list of contesting candidates at 11am. After which the final list would be displayed at noon, candidates would be allowed to withdraw their nominations until 11: 30am.

For context, the assembly will convene at 2pm for the election. Members wishing to vote for a particular candidate would proceed in single file through the entrance to the designated lobby of that candidate, where tellers would record their division numbers.

Meanwhile, the speaker will then count the votes cast through the division process and declare as prime minister the candidate securing the required majority.

Meanwhile, preparations for Mr Gillani's oath-taking ceremony have additionally been revised. Though Mr Qadir had tasked the administration with making arrangements at the High Court ground, the ceremony will now be held at the President's House between 4pm and 5pm. Published in Dawn, August 28th, 2026.

Tariq Naqash is a Muzaffarabad-based senior staff correspondent for Dawn with almost three decades of experience in reporting, analysis, and feature writing. His work focuses on politics, conflict, and governance. He can be discovered on X at @tariqnaqash.

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