PML-N nominates Barrister Iftikhar Gilani as AJK prime minister candidate

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has nominated Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani as its candidate for prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

The nomination positions a lawmaker who lost his own constituency in the recent general election for the region's top political office.

Did Iftikhar Gilani win his own AJK assembly seat?

Gilani lost the LA-29 Muzaffarabad-III constituency to Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Khan Abbasi, who won with 20,045 votes against Gilani's 16,507.

Despite this defeat, Gilani later entered the AJK Legislative Assembly through technocrat quota.

How did Gilani enter the AJK assembly despite losing?

PML-N used one of its reserved technocrat seats to bring Gilani into the Legislative Assembly after his direct election defeat. The party has now nominated him to seek the region's top political office.

PML-N President Nawaz Sharif directed Gilani to submit his nomination papers for the prime minister's election.

PML-N Central Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed the decision, saying it had been taken with Sharif's approval. The nomination follows the completion of elections to the AJK Legislative Assembly, where PML-N emerged as the largest party.

How many seats did PML-N win in the AJK elections?

In direct elections to 38 constituencies, PML-N won 25 seats, while the PPP secured 12. The sole MLA-elect from the Awami Dast-o-Bazu party has also joined PML-N.

The ruling party further strengthened its position this week by winning five of seven reserved seats, while the PPP took the remaining two.

When were the AJK elections held?

The AJK elections, initially scheduled for July 27, were held in three phases because of security concerns amid unrest in the region. Polling took place on July 27, August 2 and August 10. The final phase was originally planned across Poonch Division's 11 constituencies, including three in Bagh, one in Haveli, five in Poonch district and two in Sudhnoti, but the AJK Election Commission restricted polling to Bagh and Haveli because of law and order concerns.

Has PPP accused PML-N of rigging the AJK elections?

The PPP has accused PML-N of widespread rigging in the elections, allegations the ruling party has rejected. Tensions between the two parties have intensified since the polls.

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said last week that a genuine alliance with PML-N would not be possible until his party's concerns over the AJK elections were addressed.

Bilawal has also opened formal contacts with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and offered to cooperate with the opposition party in parliament.