PML-N leader Iftikhar Gilani has secured the top political office in Azad Kashmir after winning the Leader of the House election. The Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly held the crucial vote in Muzaffarabad on Friday, August 28, 2026.
Gilani received 30 votes in the assembly contest and comfortably crossed the required number to win. Meanwhile, Pakistan Peoples Party candidate Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi secured 14 votes.
The election attracted considerable political attention because both major parties entered the assembly with their own candidates. However, the final vote count gave the PML-N candidate a clear advantage over his PPP rival.
Following the vote, Iftikhar Gilani emerged as the new Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir. His victory gives PML-N control of the region’s top government position at an important political moment.
The Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly conducted the Leader of the House election during its scheduled session. Lawmakers gathered in the house and voted for their preferred candidates.
Gilani entered the race as PML-N’s official nominee for the premiership. Meanwhile, PPP selected Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi to challenge him for the position.
The two candidates had faced each other in an earlier electoral contest. Abbasi defeated Gilani during the general election, while Gilani later entered the Legislative Assembly through a technocrat seat.
However, Friday’s assembly contest produced a different result. Iftikhar Gilani won the support of 30 lawmakers and defeated Abbasi by 16 votes.
Abbasi secured 14 votes. As a result, Gilani won decisively and cleared his path to lead the Azad Kashmir government.
The election also drew attention because of developments within PML-N before the assembly session. Reports had earlier pointed to differences among some senior party leaders over the political situation.
PML-N leader Shah Ghulam Qadir did not attend the assembly session during the Leader of the House election. As a result, he also stayed away from the voting process.
Despite his absence, PML-N secured enough support to win the premiership. The result showed that Iftikhar Gilani had gathered a comfortable majority inside the Legislative Assembly.
Political activity had intensified in Muzaffarabad ahead of the vote. Both sides focused on their assembly strength as they prepared for the final contest for the region’s top elected office.
Earlier in the day, the election process started with the submission of nomination papers. After completing the required procedures, the assembly moved toward the final vote for the Leader of the House.
The contest required a candidate to secure at least 27 votes to become prime minister. Gilani crossed that threshold by three votes, finishing with 30 votes.
As a result, PML-N secured an important political victory in Azad Kashmir. Iftikhar Gilani will now lead the regional government and handle its key administrative and political matters.
His election also marks a major development in his political career. After losing the earlier general election contest to Abbasi, Gilani has now defeated the PPP candidate in the race for the premiership.
The result could also influence the political balance among major parties in Azad Kashmir. Moreover, the new government will face expectations regarding governance, development and coordination with lawmakers.
PPP, meanwhile, will continue its political role after its candidate received 14 votes. The party’s assembly strength will remain important as lawmakers debate future legislation and government policies.
Shah Ghulam Qadir’s absence also remains a notable development within PML-N. Nevertheless, the party maintained enough support inside the house to secure a clear victory.
With the voting process complete, attention will now shift toward the priorities of the new administration. Iftikhar Gilani will need to manage political expectations while building cooperation among lawmakers and government institutions.
The new prime minister will also face pressure to address public concerns and advance development initiatives across Azad Kashmir. Consequently, his government’s early decisions could set the direction for its broader political agenda.
Friday’s vote has now ended the immediate contest for the Leader of the House. The 30-14 result clearly placed PML-N ahead of PPP in the prime ministerial race.
For Iftikhar Gilani, the victory represents a significant political comeback after his earlier electoral defeat. His election as Azad Kashmir’s new prime minister now opens a fresh chapter in the region’s political leadership.
