Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was elected prime minister of Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Friday after securing 30 votes during a session of the regional legislative assembly in Muzaffarabad.
Gillani defeated Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi, who received 14 votes in the parliamentary election, according to reports from Pakistan’s Dawn and Express Tribune news outlets.
The 46-year-old leader succeeds PPP candidate Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, who had served as prime minister following a November 2025 vote. Rathore initially took office after a vote of no confidence ousted his predecessor, Chaudhry Anwarul Haq.
The voting was conducted under reduced numbers within the legislature. While the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly maintains a total capacity of 53 seats, its current operational strength stands at 46 members because polling for seven seats across the Poonch and Sudhnoti districts remains postponed. A total of 44 lawmakers participated in Friday’s session.
The ruling PML-N announced Gillani's success on social media platform X, stating that his election marks the beginning of a "new era of development for Azad Kashmir". The nomination had been finalized by PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif earlier in the week.
The regional general elections were conducted in staggered phases due to heightened security concerns and local unrest. Balloting took place across designated constituencies on July 27, August 2, and August 10, while seven district races were delayed. The PML-N emerged as the dominant political force by securing 25 of the 38 directly elected seats contested so far, while the PPP secured 12 seats.
Born in Muzaffarabad in July 1980, Gillani completed his higher education at SOAS University of London before being called to the bar at Lincoln’s Inn in 2005. He first entered public office after winning a legislative by-election in 2011.
He retained his assembly seat during the 2016 regional elections and subsequently served a five-year term as the regional education minister. After suffering defeats in direct constituency races in 2021 and 2026, Gillani returned to the assembly on August 24 through a seat reserved for technocrats and professionals, paving the way for his nomination to the prime minister's office.
