Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Barrister Iftikhar Gilani was sworn in on Friday as the 17th prime minister of Pakistan-administered Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Gilani won the prime ministerial election through a vote of assembly members in Muzaffarabad, while his Pakistan Peoples Party rival, Sardar Mukhtar Khan, received 14 votes.

The Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly met to elect the new prime minister, with Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq presiding. Both candidates were present during voting and shook hands before the ballot in what was described as a cordial atmosphere. PML-N’s Azad Kashmir chapter president Shah Ghulam Qadir was absent, while senior party leader and former prime minister Raja Farooq Haider attended.

After taking the oath, Gilani said his government would work with everyone to build an Azad Kashmir that could serve as an example to the world. He cited governance problems, employment opportunities and hospital standards as priorities. Gilani said the administration would be a government of the people and expressed hope that citizens and government employees would see the benefits of change.