Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani sworn in as AJK prime minister

Election and Swearing-In

Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was sworn in as Azad Jammu and Kashmir's (AJK) prime minister on Friday, August 28, 2026. The oath was administered in a televised ceremony in Muzaffarabad, the region's capital, as reported by Dawn.

Gillani secured 30 of the 44 votes cast in the legislative assembly. His sole contender was Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), who received 14 votes. The assembly comprises 53 members, but its present strength is 46 because elections for seven seats in Poonch and Sudhnoti districts have yet to be held. Only 44 lawmakers voted because the speaker, Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, did not cast his vote, and PML-N regional president Shah Ghulam Qadir was absent from the session.

In his address after taking the oath, Gillani expressed gratitude to PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. He called for unity, saying, "We must move forward together and build an AJK that is exemplary to the whole world." Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated him, expressing hope that he would "play an effective role in the development of AJK and the welfare of its people," according to state broadcaster Radio Pakistan, as quoted by Dawn.

Background and Party Dynamics

Gillani's nomination was announced late on Wednesday night after a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and four PML-N senior leaders from AJK in Islamabad, as reported by Dawn. The decision drew sharp reactions from Shah Ghulam Qadir and Raja Farooq Haider, who reportedly expressed disagreement and announced they would not participate in Friday's election process. Ultimately, only Qadir did not attend, while Haider entered the House alongside Gillani when proceedings began.

Dawn reported that PML-N's formal launch of its AJK chapter in December 2010 featured a portrait of Gillani. Born in Muzaffarabad on July 27, 1980, Gillani was educated in Islamabad and earned a bachelor's degree from SOAS in London before being called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 2005. His family has a political legacy: his grandfather was a trader and transporter, and his father joined the PPP through an association with Raja Mumtaz Hussain Rathore.

Gillani's political career included a win in the 2011 by-election for Muzaffarabad, retaining his seat in 2016 when PML-N swept AJK, and serving as minister for higher and school education. In 2021, he lost his seat when PML-N secured only four territorial seats. In the recent elections, the party leadership nominated him for a reserved seat, and he was later considered for the premiership. At 46, Gillani became AJK's prime minister five years after losing his assembly seat, a rise that Dawn described as involving "an extraordinary element of fortune."

Election Context and Allegations

The regional elections, originally scheduled for July 27, were held in three phases on July 27, August 2, and August 10 (some reports say August 3), over security concerns. In direct elections to 38 constituencies, PML-N secured 25 seats, while the PPP won 12; the lone Awami Dast-o-Bazu party MLA-elect also joined hands with the PML-N. Among reserved seats, PML-N won six and the PPP two. The PPP has alleged widespread rigging and irregularities in the elections, as reported by Dawn.

The Hindu, reporting from an Indian perspective, noted that the polls were "marred by violent protests and allegations of massive rigging." The Hindu also reported that the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) has been holding protests in the region since early June, in which several protesters and security officials were killed, and that the regional government banned the group in June. The Hindu noted that the JAAC has been protesting against the 12 seats reserved for refugees, and that Gillani's election may add to the tensions.

Perspectives

PML-N Leadership

The PML-N leadership, including Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif, supported Gillani's nomination, viewing him as a capable candidate to lead the region. Gillani's victory speech emphasized unity and development, reflecting the party's confidence in his leadership.

PPP and Opposition

The PPP, which fielded Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi as its candidate, has alleged widespread rigging and irregularities in the electoral process. The party's objections cast doubt on the legitimacy of the results, though it participated in the assembly vote.

Indian Government Position

The Hindu reported that India maintains that the entire Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral and inalienable parts of it, and asserts that Pakistan has been in "illegal and forcible occupation" of parts of these territories. This perspective frames the election and the region's political developments within the broader territorial dispute.

Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC)

The JAAC, a protest movement in the region, has been demonstrating since June against reserved seats for refugees, and its opposition to the electoral process and Gillani's election may contribute to continued unrest, as reported by The Hindu.