Defeated Candidate Iftikhar Ali Gillani Appointed New Prime Minister of PoK Following Islamabad Directive Despite losing his constituency in the PoK general elections, Barrister Iftikhar Ali Gillani was nominated through a reserved technocrat seat and appointed Prime Minister, sparking widespread anger over the perceived manipulation of the public mandate. In a contentious political development in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Barrister Iftikhar Ali Gillani was selected as the new Prime Minister during a legislative session in Muzaffarabad on Friday. The appointment has sparked immediate controversy and severe backlash across the region because Gillani had lost his own seat in the recently concluded general elections. Despite being explicitly rejected by the electorate, he entered the legislative assembly through a reserved technocrat quota with backing from political leaders in Islamabad, subsequently securing the highest executive office of the territory. Vote Division and Assembly Dynamics in Muzaffarabad The legislative proceedings held in Muzaffarabad saw participation from 44 assembly members during the voting process. Iftikhar Ali Gillani, representing the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), secured 30 votes to win the election. His sole contestant, Mukhtar Ahmad of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), managed to obtain 14 votes, resulting in a margin of 16 votes in favor of Gillani. The total sanctioned strength of the PoK assembly stands at 53 seats. However, only 46 members are currently part of the active assembly. Elections across 7 constituencies located within the Poonch and Sudhanoti districts were postponed earlier due to widespread electoral violence and a total collapse of local law and order. During Friday's session, out of the 46 existing members, 44 attended and cast their ballots, highlighting the incomplete and disputed nature of the parliamentary proceedings. The Mechanics Behind the 'Technocrat Shortcut' and Public Backlash Political observers and regional residents have widely characterized Iftikhar Ali Gillani as an unelected executive lacking popular legitimacy. Several specific factors underpin the widespread dissatisfaction surrounding his elevation. Foremost is his direct defeat at the polls. The general elections were conducted in three distinct phases on July 27, August 2, and August 3. In these elections, voters in Gillani's home constituency voted against him, dealing a direct defeat to his candidacy. Following his failure to win a direct mandate, Gillani utilized an alternative entry route into the assembly. Out of the 53 total assembly seats, 45 are directly filled through popular vote, while 8 seats are reserved for specific categories including women, technocrats, and religious scholars. Gillani was nominated to fill one of the allocated 'technocrat seats', granting him entry to the assembly without winning a popular election. Critics point out that an executive lacking a direct constituency base will remain entirely dependent on party leadership in Islamabad for political survival. Furthermore, Gillani faces significant internal dissent within his own political organisation. Shah Ghulam Qadir, the regional president of PML-N, publicly voiced his opposition to Gillani's nomination as Prime Minister. To mark his disapproval, Qadir boycotted the entire voting session on Friday and refused to cast his vote, revealing deep structural divisions within the ruling party's regional chapter. Nawaz Sharif's Directive and Internal Party Revolt The decision to appoint Gillani was orchestrated from Lahore, where PML-N supreme leader Nawaz Sharif formally approved his candidacy on Thursday. Following this high-level directive, the voting process in Muzaffarabad functioned largely as an official confirmation of the decision taken in Lahore. Electoral data from the direct voting stage shows that out of the 38 direct seats counted, PML-N secured victories in 25 constituencies, while PPP won 12 seats. Additionally, the Awami Dast-o-Baju Party captured 1 seat and subsequently extended its support to PML-N. Out of the 8 reserved seats, 6 were allocated to PML-N, providing the party with the necessary assembly numbers to install Gillani as Prime Minister despite his personal loss in the direct election phase. Widespread Protests and Civil Unrest Since June The political transition comes at a time of heightened social instability across PoK. Public demonstrations organized under the umbrella of the Joint Awami Action Committee have been ongoing since early June. Residents have been protesting against persistent economic distress, high inflation rates, steep electricity tariffs, and security measures enforced in the region. Previous confrontations between demonstrators and law enforcement agencies led to gunfire, resulting in fatalities among both civilians and security personnel. Although the government subsequently imposed an official ban on the Joint Awami Action Committee, public anger has persisted. The installation of a defeated candidate as Prime Minister has further exacerbated regional tensions, heightening concerns regarding potential renewed violence and civil unrest. What this means for you This political decision directly affects the democratic rights of local residents in PoK and alters regional stability dynamics. • Across India: Indian security authorities will closely monitor the political turmoil and public protests across the border. This impacts security preparedness along border regions. • In PoK Region: Appointing an official who lost his direct election is likely to intensify civil unrest. Residents may face strikes, market shutdowns, and disruptions to daily life in the coming days. • At Governance Level: An executive without a popular mandate will struggle to address core public grievances regarding inflation and utility tariffs. Essential economic relief for citizens could face delays. • On Law and Order: Heightened political tension may lead to increased security force deployment and movement restrictions across key districts like Muzaffarabad. Questions & Answers 1. Who has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of PoK? Barrister Iftikhar Ali Gillani has been selected as the new Prime Minister of PoK. 2. Why is Iftikhar Ali Gillani being called an unelected Prime Minister? He lost his home constituency election during the general polls, but was nominated to the assembly via a reserved technocrat seat. 3. What were the vote counts in the assembly election? Iftikhar Ali Gillani received 30 votes, while PPP candidate Mukhtar Ahmad received 14 votes out of 44 votes cast. 4. Why were elections postponed in 7 assembly constituencies? Voting across 7 seats in Poonch and Sudhanoti districts was deferred due to election-related violence and law and order issues. 5. What is driving public protests across PoK since June? Citizens have been protesting under the Joint Awami Action Committee against steep electricity bills, high inflation, and security force actions. https://trendkia.com/en/pakistan/khuda-chunava-hare-iftikhar-ali-gillani-ko-islamabad-ke-ishare-para-banaya-gaya-pok-ka-naya-pradhanamntri-23827 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.