In meeting with Gillani, PML-N leadership stresses 'immediate resolution' of AJK issues

In session with Gillani, PML-N leadership stresses 'immediate resolution' of AJK matters.

Key points

• News Desk Published August 30, 2026 Updated August 30, 2026 04: 14pm.
• Nevertheless, the AJK Election Commission unveiled that polling would only go ahead as scheduled in Bagh and Haveli since of worries over the law and order situation.
• While the latter congratulated Gillani and Farooq, gillani and Farooq expressed gratitude to the party's senior leadership for "their confidence" in him.
• The third phase was originally meant to cover all of Poonch Division.
• He instructed Gillani to set AJK on the course of development, similar to Punjab, it remarked.

News Desk Published August 30, 2026 Updated August 30, 2026 04: 14pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

Azad Jammu and Kashmir's newly elected Prime Minister Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani called on his party's leadership in Lahore on Sunday, with the latter stressing the need for the "immediate resolution" of problems of the Kashmiri residents.

In practice, the huddle included PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and AJK Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, according to a post on the party's X account.

During the session, Nawaz shared a "reform plan for the first 100 days" of Gillani's tenure, the post stated, adding that it was aimed at strengthening health, education, cleanliness, infrastructure and other sectors.

Notably, a day earlier, the AJK PM had assured the business community and students that his administration would restore internet services at educational institutions and remove restrictions on road links with Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within the next few days.

PM Gillani had additionally expressed concern over the situation in Rawalakot, saying his administration would create every effort to bring it under control.

AJK has been gripped by protests, including in Rawalakot, staged by the now-proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee that had confirmed a boycott of the lately held elections in the region over its demand for abolishing 12 seats reserved in the assembly for families displaced from occupied Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the protests have been marred by violence while AJK continues to face internet disruptions.

Against this backdrop, the elections in the region, originally scheduled for July 27, were divided into phases over security reservations against the backdrop of unrest in the region. The first phase was held on July 27, the second on Aug 2 and the third on Aug 10.

Meanwhile, the third phase was originally meant to cover all of Poonch Division. It comprises 11 constituencies, including three in Bagh, one in Haveli, five in Poonch district and two in Sudhnoti district.

Taken together, the developments around in meeting with Gillani, PML-N leadership stresses ' immediate resolution' of AJK issues point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.