ISLAMABAD — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has finalized the name of Barrister Iftikhar Gilani for the position of Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), according to sources.
An important consultative meeting regarding government formation in Azad Kashmir was held at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad. The meeting focused on the formation of a new government in AJK and the party’s strategy for the coming days.
The meeting was attended by several senior PML-N leaders, including Rana Sanaullah, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Shah Ghulam Qadir, Raja Farooq Haider, newly elected Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, Deputy Speaker Ahmed Raza Qadri and Barrister Iftikhar Gilani. Other party leaders also participated in the discussions.
According to sources, the participants held detailed consultations on the formation of the government in Azad Kashmir. Several important decisions were taken regarding the establishment of a new PML-N government in the region.
Sources said Barrister Iftikhar Gilani’s name was finalized for the office of AJK prime minister during the meeting. Gilani has been elected to the Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly on a technocrat seat.
The decision marks an important step in PML-N’s efforts to establish its government in Azad Kashmir. Party leaders discussed the political situation in detail and considered the arrangements required for the new administration.
The meeting also reviewed the next steps for government formation and discussed various political and administrative matters. The leadership is expected to continue consultations regarding the distribution of responsibilities and other issues related to the new government.
The selection of the prime minister is a key stage in the formation of the government because the elected leader will be responsible for leading the administration and implementing its political and development agenda.
Barrister Iftikhar Gilani’s selection is particularly notable because he entered the assembly through a technocrat seat. His nomination indicates that the party leadership has placed confidence in his political and administrative abilities for the top position in the AJK government.
The PML-N leadership is now expected to complete the remaining formalities before the election of the prime minister. According to the schedule, the election for the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir will be held on August 28.
The upcoming election will formally determine who will lead the new administration. With PML-N having finalized Gilani’s name, the party is expected to focus on securing the required political support for his election in the legislative assembly.
The government formation process comes after recent political developments in Azad Kashmir and the election of a new speaker and deputy speaker. The participation of the newly elected Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq and Deputy Speaker Ahmed Raza Qadri in the consultations indicates that the party is coordinating the parliamentary and government formation processes.
Senior PML-N leaders also took part in the discussions, reflecting the importance the party has attached to the formation of the new AJK government. The presence of leaders such as Rana Sanaullah, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Shah Ghulam Qadir and Raja Farooq Haider shows that the matter was discussed at a high political level.
The leadership’s consultations are expected to continue until the government formation process is completed. Besides selecting the prime minister, the party will also need to address other matters related to the functioning of the new administration.
The new government will face several political, economic and administrative challenges. Among the major responsibilities of the incoming administration will be ensuring effective governance, addressing public concerns and managing development priorities in Azad Kashmir.
The election of the prime minister on August 28 will therefore be closely watched by political circles. If Barrister Iftikhar Gilani is elected as expected, he will take charge of the AJK government and lead the new PML-N administration.
The final decision by PML-N follows detailed consultations among its senior leadership and elected representatives. The party appears to have reached consensus on Gilani as its preferred candidate for the top constitutional position in Azad Kashmir.
For now, the focus remains on the upcoming assembly session and the formal election process. The nomination of Gilani has already provided greater clarity regarding PML-N’s plans for the new government.
The coming days will determine how quickly the remaining government formation arrangements are completed and how the new administration takes shape. The August 28 election will be the key formal step in this process.
If elected, Barrister Iftikhar Gilani will have the responsibility of leading the new government and translating the party’s political priorities into an administrative programme. His selection has already become the central development in the ongoing government formation process in Azad Kashmir.
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