Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Barrister Iftikhar Gillani on Friday took the oath as the new Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Acting AJK President Chaudhry Tariq Farooq administered the oath to Gillani during a ceremony held following his election as leader of the House.
Gillani secured 30 votes in Friday’s election, a day after the PML-N nominated him as its candidate for the AJK prime ministerial position. Speaking after taking the oath of office, Prime Minister Iftikhar Gilani said his government would work collectively to build an Azad Kashmir that could serve as an example for the world.
“We will move forward together and work to create an Azad Kashmir that the entire world can look up to,” he said. Gilani acknowledged that AJK is a small region facing governance-related challenges and said his administration would take measures to create employment opportunities and improve public services. He expressed his determination to improve public services and introduce administrative reforms across the region.
Gilani said efforts would be made to bring about reforms in Azad Kashmir similar to those introduced by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. He emphasised the need to improve the condition of hospitals and ensure better healthcare facilities for the people. He said his government would pay special attention to strengthening public services and addressing the problems faced by residents.
He stressed the need to upgrade hospitals and strengthen the healthcare system, adding that his government would strive to make development and infrastructure projects in Azad Kashmir a model of progress and good governance.
Earlier, a session of the AJK Legislative Assembly was held under the chairmanship of Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, during which Barrister Iftikhar Gilani was elected as the new Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Barrister Iftikhar Gilani secured 30 votes, while his opponent, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Sardar Mukhtar Khan, received 14 votes.
The PML-N candidates for speaker and deputy speaker had earlier secured 32 votes each. However, Gilani received two fewer votes in the election for prime minister. PML-N Azad Kashmir President Shah Ghulam Qadir was also absent from the assembly session. After his election, newly elected AJK Prime Minister Iftikhar Gilani said his government would be a government of the people and that his tenure would focus on serving the people of Kashmir.
“This government will belong to the people, and this era will be dedicated to the people of Kashmir,” Gilani said, adding that every public servant would be held accountable for serving the people.
Gilani is considered one of the prominent leaders of the PML-N in Azad Kashmir politics. He belongs to a well-known political family from Muzaffarabad and has extensive experience in law, education and parliamentary politics. Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani received his early education in Islamabad before travelling to the United Kingdom for higher education.