Dr Muhammad Najeeb Naqi Khan has formally submitted his nomination papers ahead of the September 24 presidential election in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Web Desk: PML-N nominee Dr Muhammad Najeeb Naqi Khan has formally submitted his nomination papers for the office of president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), setting the stage for the presidential election scheduled for September 24.
Dr Naqi submitted his papers on Saturday at the office of Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal, who is also serving as the Returning Officer for the presidential election. He was accompanied by PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir, AJK Prime Minister Iftikhar Gilani, former prime minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan and other Assembly members.
AJK presidential election scheduled for September 24
According to the election schedule, candidates submitted nomination papers between 10am and noon on September 19. Scrutiny of the papers was also scheduled at the Returning Officer’s office on Saturday.
Candidates can withdraw their nominations until 11:30am on September 23, after which the final list of candidates will be issued.
The presidential vote will take place on September 24 from 10am to 1pm at the AJK Legislative Assembly Secretariat. Vote counting and announcement of the result will follow immediately after polling.
The president will be elected by members of the AJK Legislative Assembly.
Najeeb Naqi was nominated by Nawaz Sharif
PML-N President Nawaz Sharif nominated Dr Najeeb Naqi Khan as the party’s candidate for the AJK presidency on September 16 and directed him to submit his nomination papers.
The nomination was announced by Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.
The filing formally moves the PML-N candidate into the scheduled presidential election process.
Political and public service background
Dr Najeeb Naqi Khan belongs to Sudhanoti district and has previously served as a member of the AJK Legislative Assembly.
He has held several ministerial portfolios, including health, education, information technology, finance, and planning and development.
His nomination follows the formation of a new AJK government after the 2026 general elections and the election of the prime minister, speaker and deputy speaker.
AJK presidency remained vacant
The office of AJK president has remained vacant since January 2026, following the death of Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry.
Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar initially performed the duties of acting president. After Chaudhry Tariq Farooq was elected speaker on August 25, he subsequently assumed the responsibilities of acting president.
The September 24 election is therefore expected to fill the remaining major constitutional office following the formation of the new government.
PML-N holds majority in AJK Assembly
The AJK general elections were held in three phases between July 27 and August 10.
According to The Express Tribune, PML-N secured 25 of the 38 directly contested seats, while the PPP won 12. The lone MLA from the Awami Dast-o-Bazu party subsequently joined PML-N.
PML-N later strengthened its position by winning six of the eight reserved seats.
The party also formed the government, with Iftikhar Gilani securing 30 votes in the election for AJK prime minister against PPP candidate Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi, who received 14 votes. Gilani took oath as the 17th prime minister on August 28.
PPP candidate also submits papers
The presidential contest is not limited to the PML-N nominee. PPP nominee Chaudhry Latif Akbar also submitted nomination papers on September 19.
The final list of candidates will become clear after the September 23 withdrawal deadline.
