MUZAFFARABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)-led administration in Azad Jammu and Kashmir reached a significant milestone on Friday as eight newly elected ministers were sworn in during a ceremony at the President’s House in Muzaffarabad.
The oath was administered by AJK Acting President Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, with Prime Minister Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani, former prime minister Raja Farooq Haider, PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir, legislators, and senior officials in attendance.
The ministers taking oath included Colonel (retd) Waqar Noor, AzSadiq, Abdul Rehman Arain, Raja Saqib Majeed, Dr Mustafa Bashir Abbasi, Raja Riyasat, Sardar Mir Akbar, and Umair Naeem.
Notably, the specific portfolios for these ministers have yet to be allocated and are expected to be announced in the upcoming phase of government formation.
This oath-taking ceremony marks the completion of the initial phase of cabinet formation under Prime Minister Gillani, who was elected as the 17th prime minister of AJK on August 28.
Gillani, the PML-N candidate, secured 30 votes out of 44 cast in the 45-member AJK Legislative Assembly, while Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) contender Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi received 14 votes. This election returned PML-N to power in AJK after a decade-long gap.
Gillani had previously served in the AJK cabinet before a period away from government, after which he re-entered frontline politics and earned the party’s nomination for the prime ministership.
In his first address following his election, Gillani acknowledged the region’s challenges and committed to prioritizing job creation, merit-based appointments, transparency, anti-corruption measures, and the development of the digital economy.
He also voiced concern over the delayed elections for seven assembly seats in the Poonch and Sudhnoti districts, expressing hope that the electoral process would soon conclude to enable the assembly to function at full capacity.
Gillani pledged to work tirelessly to meet the expectations of the party leadership, legislators, and the people of AJK.
The new government faces multiple challenges, including employment, economic management, healthcare, education, infrastructure, and public service delivery. The prime minister also emphasized enhancing transparency and strengthening mechanisms to address citizens’ grievances.
Separately, PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif presented Gillani with a 100-day reform agenda, urging swift action in health, education, and infrastructure sectors, and calling for accelerated development and resolution of public concerns.
The induction of these ministers is expected to transition the government from formation to the implementation of its policy and development goals once portfolios are assigned.
