The internal rift within the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) over the nomination of Barrister Iftikhar Gilani as the next prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has deepened, with PML-N Azad Kashmir President Shah Ghulam Qadir and former AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider openly rejecting the decision.
Both leaders have opposed party leader and former prime minister Mian Nawaz Sharif’s decision to nominate Iftikhar Gilani for the top AJK office, exposing growing differences within the party over the formation of the next government in the region. The development has created uncertainty over the PML-N’s efforts to elect its nominee as AJK prime minister, with consultations reportedly continuing among different factions of the party. During an important meeting held at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad yesterday, which was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Both leaders clearly expressed their positions and refused to endorse Iftikhar Gilani as the Prime Minister.
According to media reports, Shah Ghulam Qadir has made it clear that he will neither vote for Iftikhar Gilani nor attend the session of the AJK Legislative Assembly scheduled to elect the Prime Minister. Shah Ghulam Qadir has expressed serious reservations about the party leadership’s decision. He said he does not consider Barrister Iftikhar Gilani, an elected member of the Legislative Assembly on a technocrat seat, suitable for the office of Prime Minister.
Despite his differences with the party leadership, Shah Ghulam Qadir said he remains committed to Mian Nawaz Sharif’s slogan, “Give Respect to Your Vote.” He assured the people of AJK that their honour, opinion, and dignity would not be compromised under any circumstances and that the “Give Respect to Your Vote” narrative would be upheld at all costs.
On the other hand, former AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider also opposed the decision to nominate Barrister Iftikhar Gilani as Prime Minister during an important meeting held at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad yesterday, which was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Both leaders clearly expressed their positions and refused to endorse Iftikhar Gilani as the Prime Minister.
Sources said that differences and reservations within the party over government formation in Azad Kashmir and the election of the Prime Minister were also discussed during the meeting, which was attended by the PML-N Azad Kashmir leadership and other senior leaders. However, Shah Ghulam Qadir and Raja Farooq Haider maintained their reservations.
The people of Azad Kashmir have given a mandate to the PML-N, and that mandate must be respected at every level. The party, sources said, will make future decisions after taking its workers and senior leadership into confidence and will not support any move that undermines the public mandate or the sanctity of the vote.