Dr Najeeb Naqi of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has been elected President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), securing 32 votes against 13 won by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Chaudhry Latif Akbar.
The election was held at the AJK Legislative Assembly Secretariat on Thursday, with voting taking place from 11am to 1pm.
Under the AJK Constitution, the president is elected by members of the 45-seat Legislative Assembly, requiring a majority of the total membership.
Naqi, a former AJK health minister, has also held the education and information technology portfolios.
He was due to contest the 2026 AJK elections, but polling in seven constituencies in Poonch division, including his own, was postponed because of the law and order situation.
Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Naqi on his election and said the federal government would extend its full cooperation to AJK, according to a statement from his office.
Shehbaz expressed hope that the new president would effectively discharge his responsibilities and contribute to the development, prosperity and welfare of the people of AJK.
The presidency had been vacant since January following the death of Barrister Sultan Mahmood.
Legislative Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar initially served as acting president before the role passed to incumbent Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq after his election to the position on Aug 25.
