Has ‘Respect the Vote’ Narrative Been Buried? Asma Shirazi Criticizes Iftikhar Gilani’s Nomination

ISLAMABAD: The nomination of Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for the post of Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has sparked a fresh debate in political and journalistic circles.

Prominent journalist and analyst Asma Shirazi has strongly questioned the decision, criticizing the PML-N’s political priorities and asking why a leader who lost the general election from his own constituency was chosen for the top constitutional office in AJK.

In a post on social media platform X, Shirazi expressed surprise and concern over the PML-N leadership’s decision to nominate a politician elected on a technocrat seat for the AJK premiership.

“Whatever the PML-N’s political compulsions may be, what was the reason for nominating a person who lost the general election from his own constituency as prime minister of Azad Kashmir?” she questioned.

Shirazi also questioned whether the decision would prove beneficial given the prevailing situation in AJK, where people have been protesting over inflation, electricity prices and their rights, amid growing public unrest.

She asked whether placing an election-losing politician in the position of prime minister would help heal the political and public grievances of the people of Kashmir or further deepen public distrust.

ن لیگ کی مجبوریاں اپنی جگہ لیکن کیا وجہ ہوئی کہ ایک ہارے ہوئے شخص کو وزیراعظم آزاد کشمیر نامزد کیا جا رہا ہے ؟ کیا یہ فیصلہ کشمیر کے معروضی حالات میں زخموں پر مرہم رکھ پائے گا ؟ ووٹ کو عزت دو کا بیانیہ مکمل دفن ہو چکا۔۔۔؟

— Asma Shirazi (@asmashirazi) August 27, 2026

The journalist also took aim at the PML-N’s well-known political slogan, “Respect the Vote,” questioning whether the party’s narrative had now been completely buried following Gilani’s nomination.

Her remarks suggested that sidelining the public mandate and elected representatives while making key decisions behind closed doors at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad could further undermine public confidence in the political process.

The nomination has therefore triggered questions about democratic representation, political legitimacy and the PML-N’s stated commitment to respecting the electoral mandate.