PML-N top leadership meets in Murree for AJK govt formation

Senior leadership of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) held a meeting in Murree on Saturday to discuss formation of future administration in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The meeting is being attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the party’s newly elected members of AJK Legislative Assembly while PML-N President Nawaz Sharif is presiding over the session.

The election of the future AJK prime minister is one of the main issues before the summit. Sources in the PML-N stated Shah Ghulam Qadir, the AJK president of the PML-N, was being considered for the post. Former prime minister Raja Farooq Haider, Tariq Farooq and retired Col Waqar are also being considered for the job.

The AJK parliamentary party has empowered Nawaz Sharif to take the final decision over the leader who would head the government.

Meeting is also reviewing nominations for reserved seats. PML-N AJK has already handed forward a suggested list of candidates to Nawaz Sharif.

Names being considered for the women’s reserved seats are Maria Iqbal Tarana, Nasira Khan, Maryam Kashmiri, Nisara Abbasi and Seharish Qamar.

Raja Shadab Sikandar is in the field for the technocrat seat, whereas Pir Mazhar Saeed has been suggested for the seat of ulema and mashaikh. Raja Mohammad Javed is expected to be nominated for the overseas seat.

Sources said the party’s high leadership will grant final permission to the candidates as part of the broader process of formation of the AJK administration.