MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, President of the Pakistan Muslim League (N) and former Prime Minister, telephoned the newly elected President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Dr. Najeeb Naqi, to extend his heartfelt congratulations on assuming office.
During the conversation, Nawaz Sharif remarked that Dr. Najeeb Naqi’s election as President of Azad Kashmir is a “positive omen” for the region.
He hoped that the newly elected President, the Prime Minister, and other members of the ruling coalition would work as a unified team to accelerate the journey toward Azad Kashmir’s development, prosperity, and public welfare.
Nawaz Sharif AJK visit
Making a significant announcement, the PML-N leader stated, “I will soon visit Azad Kashmir alongside Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review the overall situation and personally inspect the progress on development projects and commitments made to the public.”
On this occasion, the newly elected President of Azad Kashmir, Dr. Najeeb Naqi, thanked Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif for his congratulations and good wishes.
He assured the PML-N leader that the Azad Kashmir government, guided by his vision and leadership, would utilize all its resources and spare no effort in the region’s development and in fulfilling all promises made to the people.
Dr. Najeeb Naqi takes oath as President of AJK
Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Dr Najeeb Naqi was sworn in as the 23rd President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) in an oath-taking ceremony in Muzaffarabad on Thursday.
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of AJK, Justice Raja Saeed Akram Khan, administered the oath to the newly elected President at the Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister AJK Iftikhar Gilani, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam, Federal Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Pakistan Rana Sanaullah, and Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Chaudhry Tariq Farooq.
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Justice Sardar Liaquat Hussain, former PM Raja Farooq Haider Khan, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, President of PML-N AJK Shah Ghulam Qadir, former Federal Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, government ministers, members of the assembly, chief secretary, inspector general of police, government secretaries, and police officers were also present on the occasion.
Chief Secretary AJK Khushal Khan read out the notification of the election of the President. After the oath-taking ceremony, a guard of honor was presented to the President by a police contingent.
Dr Najeeb was earlier elected President of the state with 32 votes, while his opponent, PPP’s candidate Chaudhry Latif Akbar, received 13 votes.
The session of the AJK Legislative Assembly was held under the chairmanship of Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq. A total of 45 votes were polled, with one PPP lawmaker being absent.
The duties of the Returning Officer were performed by the Secretary Election Commission.
The office of the AJK president had remained vacant following the death of Barrister Sultan Mahmood in January this year. Following his demise, then-Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar started serving as acting president.
The role was then assumed by incumbent Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq after he was elected speaker on August 25.
Addressing the session, Prime Minister Iftikhar Gilani expressed gratitude to the party leadership for the decision to elect Dr. Najeeb Naqi and congratulated the people of Poonch.
He said that Naqi and his family have rendered innumerable services to Poonch and the entire Azad Kashmir, and his election as President is like a breath of fresh air for this region.
