MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English) The newly elected Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Barrister Iftikhar Ali Gilani, took the oath of office at a ceremony held at the President Secretariat in Muzaffarabad on Friday.
The Acting President of AJK, Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, administered the oath to him. He also addressed the participants during the oath-taking ceremony.
Earlier today, PML-N’s Gillani was elected as the 17th prime minister of the region after securing 30 of the 44 votes polled in the assembly. His opponent, PPP’s Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi, bagged 14 votes.
Addressing the ceremony, new elected PM said the people, his party, and its leadership had entrusted him with a major responsibility, which he would strive to fulfil with sincerity and dedication.
He expressed gratitude to the PML-N President Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and senior party leadership.
“If necessary, he will work with his team 24 hours a day for the development and progress of the state and address the problems faced by its people,” Gilani said.
The newly elected premier added that despite limited resources, the new government’s foremost priorities would be creating decent employment opportunities for young people, improving the quality of education, and ensuring better healthcare facilities.
“With the cooperation of all political forces and assembly members, AJK will be made an example of development and progress,” he hoped.
Barrister Iftikhar said the progress of Azad Kashmir could not be achieved through the efforts of a single individual or political party, urging all members of the Legislative Assembly to cooperate.
“We all have to move forward together,” he said, adding that the cabinet and assembly members would need to work collectively while keeping the interests of the state above all other considerations.
The newly elected prime minister said the PML-N would combine the experience of senior leadership with the energy of the younger generation for the development of the state. “If experience and the potential of youth are used, great results can be achieved.”
On the occasion, he thanked the participants of the ceremony, saying that their encouragement was a source of strength for him. Gilani said that he considered the trust of his party, leadership, members of the assembly, and the people of Azad Kashmir as his biggest responsibility.
