Metro53 - ISLAMABAD (Web Desk): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif has nominated Barrister Iftikhar Gilani, who entered the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly on a reserved seat, as the party’s candidate for prime minister.
Sources said several senior party leaders were unhappy with the decision, particularly because Gilani had lost his general election seat before being elected to the assembly on a reserved seat.
According to sources, differences over Gilani’s nomination were also cited as a reason for delaying the AJK Assembly session scheduled for Thursday to elect the prime minister. The session has now been rescheduled for Friday, and an amended notice has been issued.
Political analysts believe that if former AJK prime minister Raja Farooq Haider, AJK PML-N president Shah Ghulam Qadir and other senior party leaders do not agree with Gilani’s nomination, the election may face further uncertainty and the assembly session could potentially be postponed again on August 28.
Raja Farooq Haider and Shah Ghulam Qadir are also among the contenders for the top office. Shah Ghulam Qadir had reportedly been considered the strongest candidate for the position.
Sources close to Qadir said he was disappointed with Gilani’s nomination. His post on X following the party meeting was also seen as an indication of his reservations.
Qadir pledged to uphold Nawaz Sharif’s slogan of “respect the vote” and said he would not compromise on the honour and dignity of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Sources further claimed that several other senior PML-N leaders in AJK were also unhappy with Gilani’s nomination.
The reported nomination has also drawn criticism from sections of the public, with critics arguing that Gilani lost the general election and was subsequently brought into the assembly through a reserved seat before being considered for the prime minister’s office. They say such a move could undermine the mandate of candidates directly elected by voters.
The situation remains fluid, with further developments expected ahead of the AJK Assembly session.
