MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Thursday elected Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominee Dr. Muhammad Najib Naqi Khan as the 23rd President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Dr. Najib Naqi secured 32 votes, defeating Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Chaudhry Latif Akbar, who received 13 votes.
Polling for the presidential election was held at the AJK Legislative Assembly Secretariat, followed by the counting of votes under the supervision of the returning officer.
The 46-member House also saw Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq cast his vote. PPP lawmaker Chaudhry Qasim Majeed was absent, and his vote was therefore not counted.
Dr. Najib Naqi’s election completes the formation of key constitutional offices following the establishment of the new government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, PML-N’s Iftikhar Gilani was elected as Prime Minister of AJK, while Chaudhry Tariq Farooq assumed the office of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
The AJK Election Commission had approved the nomination papers of Dr. Muhammad Najib Naqi Khan and Chaudhry Latif Akbar for the presidential election.
With Dr. Najib Naqi’s election, a new presidential term has begun in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. His election also gives representation to the Poonch Division in the state’s key constitutional offices.
The upcoming elections on seven seats in Rawalakot and Sudhanoti are also expected to be an important political development in Azad Kashmir following the presidential election.