Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominee Dr Najeeb Naqi was elected president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Thursday after securing 32 votes in the presidential election, defeating Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Chaudhry Latif Akbar, who polled 13 votes.
The election was held at the AJK Legislative Assembly Secretariat, with polling concluding at 1pm. Under the AJK Constitution, the president is elected by members of the Legislative Assembly by a majority of its total membership.
Dr Naqi secured more than the 27 votes required to win the office for a five-year term.
The presidential office had remained vacant since January following the death of Barrister Sultan Mahmood. Chaudhry Latif Akbar subsequently served as acting president before the responsibility passed to Chaudhry Tariq Farooq following his election as speaker of the Legislative Assembly on Aug 25.
The PML-N had fielded Dr Naqi, while the PPP nominated Mr Akbar. Both candidates submitted their nomination papers on Sept 19 ahead of Thursday’s election.
The AJK Assembly currently has 46 members, as elections to seven seats in Poonch and Sudhnoti districts have yet to be held. The PML-N and its allies have 32 members, while the PPP has 14 lawmakers.
Dr Naqi, who hails from Sudhnoti district, is a former health minister and a senior PML-N parliamentarian. He previously held the health portfolio during the party’s government from 2016 to 2021.
His election fills the presidency after the office remained vacant for around eight months.
