PML-N nominee Najeeb Naqi Khan submits papers for AJK president

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominee Dr Muhammad Najeeb Naqi Khan on Saturday formally submitted his nomination papers for the office of president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), setting the stage for the September 24 presidential election. The AJK Assembly is the electoral college for presidential elections. The completion of the presidential election will fill the remaining major constitutional office following the recent formation of the new government and the election of the prime minister, speaker and deputy speaker. The presidential election will complete the formal process of constituting the region’s principal constitutional offices following the 2026 general elections. Dr Naqi submitted his papers 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, Prime Minister Iftikhar Gilani, former prime minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan, Minister and Legislative Assembly member Sardar Mir Akbar Khan, and other members of the Assembly. Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retd) Ghulam Mustafa Mughal received the nomination papers. According to the election schedule, scrutiny of the papers will also be conducted at the office of the Returning Officer on Saturday. Read: Nawaz Sharif nominates Najeeb Naqi Khan as AJK president candidate The nomination papers were filed between 10:00am and noon on September 19, while candidates have until 11:30am on September 23 to withdraw their nominations. The final list of candidates will be issued after the withdrawal deadline. The PML-N President Nawaz Sharif had nominated Dr Naqi 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. پاکستان مسلم لیگ (ن) کے صدر جناب محمد نواز شریف نے ڈاکٹر محمد نجیب نقی خان صاحب کو آزاد ریاست جموں وکشمیر کے صدر کے منصب پر نامزد کیا ہے اور انہیں صدر آزاد جموں وکشمیر کے عہدے کے لئے کاغذات نامزدگی جمع کرانے کی ہدایت کی ہے۔ جماعت اور اس کی قیادت کی جانب سے ڈاکٹر محمد نجیب نقی کو… — Marriyum Aurangzeb (@Marriyum_A) September 16, 2026 Dr Naqi, who belongs to Sudhanoti district, has previously served as a member of the AJK Legislative Assembly and held several important ministerial portfolios, including health, education, information technology, finance and planning and development. The office of the AJK president has remained vacant since January 2026 following the death of Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry. Then-Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar initially performed the duties of acting president. Following the election of Chaudhry Tariq Farooq as speaker on August 25, he subsequently assumed the responsibilities of acting president. The AJK Election Commission has scheduled the presidential election for September 24. Polling will be held at the AJK Legislative Assembly Secretariat from 10:00am to 1:00pm, followed immediately by counting of votes and announcement of the result. The president will be elected by the members of the AJK Legislative Assembly through a vote. Read more: Nawaz shares 100-day uplift plan with AJK PM The AJK elections were held in three phases between July 27 and August 10, 2026. Of the 45 directly contested constituencies, polling was held on 38, with the PML-N securing 25 seats and the PPP winning 12. The lone MLA of the Awami Dast-o-Bazu party joined hands with the PML-N. The PML-N increased its strength in the house after securing six of the eight reserved seats. The party won three women's reserved seats as well as the seats reserved for Ulema and Mashaikh, overseas Kashmiris and a technocrat. The PPP secured the remaining two women's reserved seats. Later, the PML-N announced that Barrister Gillani had been nominated as the party’s candidate for the office of AJK PM. Gillani secured 30 votes against Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Sardar Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi, who received 14 votes. On August 28, Gillani took the oath as the 17th prime minister and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin was appointed Leader of the Opposition.