The newly elected representatives of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly were sworn in on Monday, officially commencing the work of the newly formed 53-member legislature following the completion of elections for reserved seats.
The oath-taking ceremony was conducted by the outgoing Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar at the assembly premises. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) emerged as the dominant party, securing six out of eight reserved seats, bringing its total strength in the assembly to 31 members.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) secured two reserved seats, increasing its representation to 14 members. With the support of an Awami Dast-o-Bazu member, PML-N’s effective strength has risen to 32, further consolidating its position.
The assembly consists of 45 general seats alongside eight reserved seats, and the conclusion of reserved-seat elections marked the final step in establishing the new legislative body.
In a notable development, a women’s reserved seat saw a tie between PPP’s Zubia Khursheed and PML-N’s Riffat Abid, each receiving an equal number of votes. The winner was decided by a draw, with Khursheed prevailing and securing the seat.
With the oath-taking ceremony completed, the process of government formation in AJK has advanced. The election of the speaker and deputy speaker is scheduled for Tuesday, while the selection of the new AJK prime minister is anticipated on August 27.
Earlier, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif convened a meeting to discuss the government formation strategy in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and to consider potential prime ministerial candidates. Shah Ghulam Qadir and Tariq Farooq have emerged as frontrunners, with one expected to be officially nominated by the party.
The meeting also addressed the approach for the reserved seats elections in the AJK Legislative Assembly. The PML-N parliamentary party in AJK had already finalized its strategy and expressed strong confidence in the leadership of Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
The party outlined that the forthcoming AJK government would prioritize enhancing law and order, revitalizing development initiatives, and implementing policies focused on public welfare. It reaffirmed its dedication to upholding constitutional supremacy, meritocracy, and justice.
The completion of the reserved seat elections has finalized the formation of the 53-member assembly, setting the stage for the election of key leadership positions including the speaker, deputy speaker, and prime minister.
