Muzaffarabad, 29 August (H.S.): Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Iftikhar Gilani was sworn in as the 17th Prime Minister of Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoK) on Friday. The oath-taking ceremony was held at the PoK Legislative Assembly in Muzaffarabad, following which Gilani delivered his maiden address to the House. In his first speech as prime minister, Gilani launched a sharp attack on India and criticised New Delhi over the Kashmir issue.

In the election for the prime ministerial post, Gilani secured 30 votes, while Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Sardar Mukhtar Khan received 14 votes. Gilani was first elected to the PoK Legislative Assembly in 2011 and has previously served as the education minister in the PoK government. This time, he entered the Assembly through a seat reserved for technocrats.

According to Geo News, during his maiden address to the Assembly, Gilani criticised India over the Kashmir issue, linking it to the right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination under United Nations resolutions. He also opposed the steps taken by India on August 5, 2019, with regard to Jammu and Kashmir.

Gilani claimed that Kashmir could not be made a part of India merely through legislation. Speaking about the relationship between Pakistan and Kashmir, he said, “Pakistan is incomplete without Kashmir, and Kashmir is incomplete without Pakistan.”

He also expressed gratitude to the Pakistan Army and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. In addition, he thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N president Nawaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

Gilani said his government would seek to bring similar changes to governance and development in PoK as those undertaken in Punjab under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

He pledged to improve the healthcare and education systems, promote skills-based education for young people and enhance transparency in government functioning. Gilani also announced plans to introduce a third-party recruitment mechanism modelled on the National Testing Service (NTS) to ensure greater transparency in government recruitment.

The newly elected prime minister said he would work to move PoK towards a digital economy. He also announced plans to launch a digital citizen portal to address public grievances and improve access to government services.

Gilani acknowledged that internet connectivity problems persist in some parts of PoK and expressed hope that the situation would improve in the coming period. He also emphasised skills-based education to equip young people with the capabilities required for employment and participation in a modern economy.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Iftikhar Gilani on his election as the prime minister of PoK. He said the PML-N’s victory in PoK was the result of party president Nawaz Sharif’s leadership and the hard work of party workers.

Shehbaz Sharif expressed confidence that Gilani would play an active role in promoting development in PoK and improving the welfare and prosperity of its people. He said the federal government would continue to extend all possible support to improve the progress, quality of life and overall well-being of the people of PoK.

The Pakistani Prime Minister also described the continuation of the democratic process in PoK as a welcome development.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar