The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly will meet today to elect a new prime minister. Candidates must submit their nomination papers by 10:30am.
The nomination papers will undergo scrutiny before the final candidates are announced. The process will determine who can contest the upcoming PM election.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has nominated Barrister Syed Iftikhar Gilani for the position. The decision followed consultations regarding the formation of the new government.
PML-N President Nawaz Sharif approved Gilani’s nomination. He also directed Gilani to submit his nomination papers for the election.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has nominated Mukhtar Ahmed for the top position. Ahmed secured his assembly seat through the technocrat category.
A candidate needs at least 27 votes to become the AJK prime minister. The assembly’s current numbers give the PML-N a significant advantage.
The PML-N has 32 members in the AJK Legislative Assembly. The PPP has 16 members in the house.
Despite its numerical strength, the PML-N faces internal differences over the nomination. Several senior party figures have raised concerns about Gilani’s selection.
Former AJK prime minister Raja Farooq Haider has refused to attend the assembly session. His decision comes ahead of the PM election.
PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir has also opposed Gilani’s nomination. He said he would neither vote for Gilani nor attend the session.
The internal disagreements have created uncertainty before the voting process. The PML-N still holds enough seats to remain in a strong position.
However, the absence of senior members could affect the political atmosphere. Party unity will remain a key issue during the election.
The assembly will first complete the nomination process. Officials will scrutinise the submitted papers before confirming the final candidates.
The election will then determine the next head of the AJK government. The successful candidate must secure the required majority of members.
The PML-N’s 32 seats place Gilani above the required threshold. However, internal opposition has made the PM election more politically significant.
The PPP’s nomination of Mukhtar Ahmed ensures a contest for the position. The party holds 16 seats in the assembly.
The outcome will depend on voting during the assembly session. Members will decide which candidate receives the required support.
The latest developments have drawn attention to divisions within the PML-N. The party’s numerical advantage remains clear despite the internal disagreements.
The PM election comes at a crucial stage for government formation in AJK. The new prime minister will lead the regional government after the vote.
Political observers will closely monitor attendance and voting patterns. The decisions of dissenting PML-N members could influence the session’s proceedings.
The nomination deadline is 10:30am. The scrutiny process will follow before the final list of candidates is issued.
The AJK Assembly will then proceed with the election. The PM election is expected to provide clarity on the formation of the new government.
For now, Gilani remains the PML-N candidate, while Ahmed represents the PPP. The final result will depend on the votes cast during the assembly session.
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