Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif has put forward Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani as the candidate for the prime minister position of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), despite his recent defeat in the region’s general elections. Gilani, who lost the LA-29 Muzaffarabad-III seat to Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) candidate Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi, re-entered the AJK Legislative Assembly through a reserved technocrat seat allocated to the PML-N.
The party’s Central Information Secretary, Marriyum Aurangzeb, announced Gilani’s nomination on social media. On August 24, the PML-N secured five of the seven reserved seats in the AJK Assembly, while the PPP claimed two. Gilani won the technocrat seat by obtaining 26 votes, surpassing PPP’s Sahibzada Zulfiqar Ali by 14 votes, enabling his return to the assembly shortly after his electoral loss.
In a significant development, Gilani’s nomination has stirred controversy within the PML-N. Senior party leaders from AJK have reportedly voiced concerns, urging Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to select a candidate who won their constituency in the general election. This internal disagreement is believed to have contributed to the postponement of the AJK Assembly session originally scheduled for August 27 to elect the prime minister, now rescheduled for August 28.
Political analysts suggest that if influential PML-N figures such as former AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider and AJK PML-N President Shah Ghulam Qadir continue to oppose Gilani’s nomination, further delays in his election could occur. Shah Ghulam Qadir, considered a strong contender for the premiership, has expressed his commitment to respecting electoral mandates and upholding the dignity of AJK’s people, remarks widely interpreted as a critique of Gilani’s nomination.
Public criticism has also emerged, questioning the rationale behind elevating a candidate who lost in a direct election through a reserved seat to the region’s highest office. Opponents argue that this move undermines the voters’ decision in the general election, making Gilani’s elevation contentious.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to maintain regional representation balance within the new AJK government. The Mirpur division has secured the speakership, the prime minister is expected to hail from Muzaffarabad division, and the presidency is anticipated to be assigned to the Poonch division, where elections have been delayed due to security concerns. This regional distribution is seen as crucial in shaping the new administration.
Gilani is a veteran PML-N politician with prior experience as a member of the AJK Legislative Assembly, having been elected in 2011 and 2016. After the 2016 elections, he served as the education minister in the AJK cabinet. Despite his defeat in the 2026 general election for LA-29 Muzaffarabad-III, his successful bid for the technocrat reserved seat and subsequent nomination for the premiership mark a rapid political comeback.
However, Gilani’s nomination does not guarantee his appointment as prime minister. The final decision rests with the AJK Legislative Assembly, which will convene on August 28 to elect the new prime minister.
