Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani Nominated as AJK Prime Minister
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif has formally nominated Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani for the post of Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) following extensive consultations.
According to PML-N Central Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb, Nawaz Sharif has directed Barrister Iftikhar Ali Gilani to submit his nomination papers for the AJK premiership.
The decision was taken during a high-level consultation meeting held at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad. The meeting was attended by senior PML-N leaders, including Shah Ghulam Qadir, former AJK prime minister Raja Farooq Haider and AJK Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq.
پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کے صدر محمد نواز شریف نے بیرسٹر سید افتخار علی گیلانی کو آزاد جموں و کشمیر کے وزیراعظم کے منصب پر نامزد کیا ہے
پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کے صدر محمد نواز شریف نے بیرسٹر سید افتخار علی گیلانی کو آزاد جموں و کشمیر کی وزارت عظمی کے عہدے پر انتخاب کے لئے کاغذات…— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) August 27, 2026
Sources said a close contest had been underway between Shah Ghulam Qadir and Barrister Iftikhar Ali Gilani for the AJK chief executive’s position. After nearly four hours of discussions at the Prime Minister’s House, the PML-N leadership reached a consensus on Gilani’s nomination.
Sources further said Shah Ghulam Qadir could potentially be nominated for the position of AJK president in an effort to secure his support, provided he accepts the offer.
Following the political development, the schedule for the election of the AJK leader of the house has also been delayed by one day. The election for the prime minister is now scheduled to be held on August 28.
آزاد کشمیر کی وزارت عظمی کے لیے شاہ غلام قادر اور افتخار گیلانی میں سخت میچ پڑا رہا لیکن وزیراعظم ہاوس میں 4 گھنٹے کی بحث کے بعد بیرسٹر افتخار گیلانی کو وزیر اعظم آزاد کشمیر نامزد کر دیا گیا۔ شاہ غلام قادر کو ممکنہ طور پر صدر آزاد کشمیر کیلئے نامزد کیا جائے گا اگر انہوں نے قبول… pic.twitter.com/wKgXGeWUjR
— Syed Sammer Abbas (سید ثمر عباس) (@SammerAbbas) August 26, 2026
It is noteworthy that Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani had lost the election from his constituency on a general seat. He was subsequently elected to the AJK Legislative Assembly on a reserved technocrat seat.
With his nomination by Nawaz Sharif, Gilani is now close to assuming the highest constitutional office in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
