Nawaz Sharif nominates Najeeb Naqi Khan as AJK president candidate

PML-N president directs Dr Najeeb to submit his nomination papers for office of president of AJK

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz on Wednesday nominated Dr Muhammad Najeeb Naqi Khan for the office of the President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).

"(PML-N) President Nawaz Sharif has nominated Naqi for the post of President of AJK and directed him to submit his nomination papers for the office," said Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb in a post on X.

She further said that the party and leadership congratulate him on this nomination.

پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کے صدر جناب محمد نواز شریف نے ڈاکٹر محمد نجیب نقی خان صاحب کو آزاد ریاست جموں وکشمیر کے صدر کے منصب پر نامزد کیا ہے اور انہیں صدر آزاد جموں وکشمیر کے عہدے کے لئے کاغذات نامزدگی جمع کرانے کی ہدایت کی ہے۔ جماعت اور اس کی قیادت کی جانب سے ڈاکٹر محمد نجیب نقی کو…

— Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) September 16, 2026

The AJK elections were held in three phases between July 27 and August 10, 2026. Of the 45 directly contested constituencies polling was held on 38 with the PML-N securing 25 seats and the PPP winning 12. The lone MLA of the Awami Dast-o-Bazu party joined hands with the PML-N.

The PML-N increased its strength in the house after securing six of the eight reserved seats. The party won three women's reserved seats as well as the seats reserved for Ulema and Mashaikh, overseas Kashmiris and a technocrat. The PPP secured the remaining two women's reserved seats.

Later, the PML-N announced that Barrister Gillani had been nominated as the party’s candidate for the office of AJK PM. Gillani secured 30 votes against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi, who received 14 votes.

On August 28, Gillani took the oath as the 17th prime minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin was appointed Leader of the Opposition.