PML-N’s Dr Najeeb Naqi Elected 25th President of Azad Kashmir
MUZAFFARABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz nominee Dr Muhammad Najeeb Naqi was elected president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday after securing 32 votes, defeating Pakistan Peoples Party candidate Chaudhry Latif Akbar, who received 13 votes.
The presidential election was held at the AJK Legislative Assembly Secretariat in Muzaffarabad, with polling concluding at 1pm. Dawn reported that Dr Naqi secured 32 votes against Akbar’s 13.
45 assembly members participated in the election while one member was absent. It identified Dr Naqi as the 25th president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and said arrangements had been made for his oath-taking ceremony.
The election fills a constitutional office that had remained vacant since January following the death of Barrister Sultan Mahmood. The presidential term is five years.
Under the AJK Constitution, the president is elected by members of the Legislative Assembly by a majority of the total membership. Ahead of Thursday’s vote, PML-N held 31 seats in the 46-member occupied House, excluding Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, while the PPP had 14 members.
Who Is Dr Najeeb Naqi?
Dr Naqi is an experienced AJK politician from Sudhnoti district and has previously served in senior positions in the regional government.
Before entering politics, he studied at Aitchison College and later graduated in medicine from King Edward Medical College in Lahore. He was completing his house job at Mayo Hospital when circumstances following his father’s death led him into politics.
His father, retired Colonel Muhammad Naqi Khan, was serving as AJK health minister when he died in a road accident while campaigning shortly before the 1990 elections.
Dr Naqi subsequently developed a long political career and has held ministerial responsibilities in successive AJK governments. He served as health minister from 2006 to 2011 and again held the portfolio during the PML-N government between 2016 and 2021.
PML-N President Nawaz Sharif formally nominated Dr Naqi for the presidency on September 16 following consultations within the party.
PPP fielded senior politician and former AJK Legislative Assembly speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar against him. Both candidates submitted their nomination papers ahead of Thursday’s election.
Shehbaz Sharif Congratulates New President
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Dr Naqi following the result and expressed hope that he would contribute to development, prosperity and public welfare in AJK. The prime minister also reiterated the federal government’s commitment to cooperation with the AJK administration. These were the prime minister’s stated views following the election.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also congratulated Dr Naqi and extended her best wishes following his election.
The result completes the process of filling the AJK presidency after the office remained vacant for several months following Sultan Mahmood’s death.
