AJK assembly to vote for new PM today as PML-N’s Gilani files nomination papers

• Nawaz Sharif nominated Gilani as PML-N’s AJK PM candidate.
• Other PML-N candidates also submit papers for AJK premiership.
• AJK Assembly has 53 seats, with its current strength at 46.
  

MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani on Friday submitted his nomination papers for the election of the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The move comes a day after PML-N President Nawaz Sharif nominated Barrister Gilani as the party’s candidate for the office of AJK premiership.

Gilani was elected to the AJK Legislative Assembly on the reserved seat for technocrats.

Meanwhile, PML-N candidates Col (retd) Waqar Noor, Dr Mustafa Bashir Abbasi, Raja Saqib Majeed and Mir Akbar also submitted their nomination papers for the AJK premiership election.

The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly has summoned its session today to elect the new prime minister.

As per the schedule, nomination papers were to be filed from 9:30am to 10:30am on August 28, followed by scrutiny from 10:30am to 10:45am. The list of candidates was scheduled to be displayed at 11am.

Candidates were allowed to withdraw their nomination papers between 11am and 11:30am, after which the final list was to be issued at noon.

The election for the prime minister is scheduled for 2pm, following Friday prayers, while the newly elected prime minister will take the oath of office at 4pm at the Presidency.

The AJK Legislative Assembly has 53 seats, but its current strength stands at 46 as elections to seven seats in Poonch and Sudhnoti districts are yet to be held.

The PML-N has the support of 32 members in the AJK Legislative Assembly, including its ally, the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Dast-o-Bazu (JK ADB). The PPP has 14 members.