Barrister Iftikhar Gilani Elected and Sworn In as AJK's 17th Prime Minister

The Azad Jammu & Kashmir Legislative Assembly elected Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani (PML-N) as the territory's 17th prime minister on August 28, 2026, with Gilani securing 30 votes against PPP candidate Sardar Mukhtar Khan's 14, reflecting some abstentions/absences from the 46-seat PML-N-led coalition amid the intra-party revolt led by dropped nominee Shah Ghulam Qadir. AJK's Acting President and Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq administered the oath of office at a Muzaffarabad ceremony attended by legislative assembly members, political leaders, senior government officials and the public. In his remarks after taking oath, Gilani thanked Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz, and pledged to work for development and prosperity in the territory.