MUZAFFARABAD: Newly elected members of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly will take oath on Monday as the newly formed house holds its first session following the 2026 general elections.
Before the oath-taking ceremony, lawmakers will vote on seven reserved seats from 10am to 1pm. The seats include five for women and one each for technocrats and religious scholars. Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Abdul Rehman Arain has already won the reserved seat for overseas Kashmiris unopposed.
After announcing the results of the reserved-seat elections, the newly elected members will take oath at 2pm.
The assembly will elect its speaker and deputy speaker on Tuesday. It will then elect the AJK prime minister on Aug. 27.
The 53-member house has 25 PML-N lawmakers, giving the party a clear lead. After securing reserved seats and support from the Awam Dast-e-Bazoo party, the PML-N is expected to increase its parliamentary strength to 33 members. As a result, the party is in a strong position to form the next government.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif also discussed possible candidates for the AJK prime minister and speaker during their weekly meeting on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the PML-N’s AJK parliamentary party held its first formal meeting under party president and expected prime minister Shah Ghulam Qadir.
The meeting focused on government formation, governance, the situation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, and the strategy for the reserved-seat elections.
The parliamentary party also adopted a unanimous resolution outlining the new government’s priorities. These include addressing public grievances, restoring law and order, promoting merit and justice, and completing stalled development projects.
The party also pledged to pursue development in AJK and uphold the Constitution and rule of law in line with Nawaz Sharif’s political vision.
The resolution expressed concern over the situation in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir. It called on the international community to take notice of alleged human rights violations and war crimes.
The PML-N parliamentary party also rejected remarks attributed to the US ambassador to India on Kashmir. It called for resolving the Kashmir dispute in line with United Nations resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.
Meanwhile, PML-N AJK president Shah Ghulam Qadir and secretary-general Chaudhry Tariq Farooq have emerged as prominent contenders for the prime minister’s post.
However, the four-phase elections also faced controversy. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), a coalition partner of the PML-N at the federal level, accused the ruling party of widespread rigging and violence during the polls.
The allegations have added political tension as the newly elected assembly prepares to form the next AJK government.
