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ISLAMABAD: Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani is set to be elected as the 17th Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) today, August 28, after the AJK Legislative Assembly issued a revised schedule for the election. Gilani’s nomination by PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif has placed the party’s central leadership at the centre of the government-formation process in AJK, where the PML-N and its allies hold a comfortable majority in the 53-member Legislative Assembly. Election Schedule According to the revised schedule issued by the AJK Legislative Assembly, nomination papers will be filed from 9:30am to 10:30am, followed by scrutiny from 10:30am to 10:45am. The candidate list will be displayed at 11:00am, while candidates will be allowed to withdraw their papers until 11:30am. The final list will be issued at noon. The election for the prime minister is scheduled for 2:00pm, after Friday prayers, followed by the oath-taking ceremony at 4:00pm at the Presidency. PML-N Holds Numbers The PML-N and its coalition partners currently command 32 seats in the 53-member assembly, including support from JUI and Awami Dast-o-Bazu. The PPP has 14 members and has nominated Mukhtar Ahmed Abbasi and Bazal Naqvi for the prime ministerial contest. With the coalition holding a clear majority, Gilani is widely expected to secure the required votes and become the next AJK premier. Nomination Sparks Internal Reservations Despite the coalition’s numerical strength, Gilani’s nomination has reportedly exposed differences within the PML-N’s AJK chapter. Sources familiar with the matter told Minute Mirror that PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir and former AJK prime minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan expressed reservations during a meeting at the Prime Minister’s House in Islamabad on Wednesday in the presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Qadir was also reportedly opposed to the nomination and indicated that he would neither vote for Gilani nor attend Friday’s assembly session. The extent of internal dissent became evident when only 26 of the 32 lawmakers supporting the coalition attended a dinner hosted by AJK Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Tariq Farooq on Thursday night. PML-N leader and Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb confirmed Gilani’s nomination on X, saying the decision was taken following consultations within the party leadership. Gilani’s Political Career Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani became a member of the AJK Legislative Assembly in August 2026 on a technocrat seat. He previously served as an assembly member from October 2011 to August 2021, giving him considerable experience in AJK politics. Speaker, Deputy Speaker Elected The latest developments follow the election of Chaudhry Tariq Farooq as Speaker of the AJK Legislative Assembly on August 24. He secured 32 votes. Ahmed Raza Qadri was elected Deputy Speaker with the same number of votes. A small cabinet is also expected to take oath after the new prime minister assumes office. Nawaz Sharif’s Role The latest nomination marks another significant turn in the PML-N’s efforts to form the government in AJK. Following the party’s victory in the AJK elections, held in three phases between July 27 and August 10, Nawaz Sharif initially nominated Shah Ghulam Qadir for the top office. The subsequent nomination of Barrister Iftikhar Gilani has therefore introduced an unexpected twist to the government-formation process, while raising questions about whether the PML-N leadership can resolve internal differences before the new government takes shape.

ISLAMABAD: Former Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz Sharif held a series of meetings with current and former parliamentarians at the Prime Minister’s House, where regional issues and youth development initiatives came under discussion. Hamza Shehbaz met Saira Afzal Tarar, Jamal Shah Kakar and Hafizur Rehman Drishak, while former MNA Murtaza Javed Abbasi, Khurram Dastgir and former Senator Behramand Tangi also called on him. During the meetings, the participants discussed issues affecting their respective regions. Hamza Shehbaz assured the lawmakers that matters requiring government attention would be taken up on a priority basis. Focus on youth skills and employment Hamza Shehbaz also chaired a meeting on the Prime Minister’s Youth Program, attended by its Chairman Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan. The former Punjab chief minister directed officials to expand access to modern technical and vocational training for young people, particularly those from Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, South Punjab and smaller cities. He stressed the need to ensure that young people from less-developed areas are not left behind in emerging skills and employment opportunities. The meeting also discussed providing monthly stipends to participants during their technical training to help them complete their courses. Hamza Shehbaz said the government should fully support technical education and focus on connecting trained youth with employment opportunities in the market. The initiative aims to strengthen skills development while creating practical pathways from training to employment for young people across the country.

ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday withdrew the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) (Amendment) Bill, 2026, from the Senate amid concerns raised by opposition lawmakers and stakeholders in the telecom sector. The withdrawal motion was moved on the Senate floor by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on behalf of the Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication. The proposed legislation sought to introduce amendments to the existing legal and regulatory framework governing Pakistan’s telecommunications sector. However, the bill had faced criticism in recent weeks, with opposition members and industry representatives expressing reservations over several of its provisions. No specific reason for withdrawing the bill was disclosed during the Senate proceedings. However, government sources indicated that the legislation could be brought back before Parliament after further consultations with relevant stakeholders and consideration of their concerns. The Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) Act provides the legal framework for the structure, licensing and regulation of the country’s telecom sector. With the bill withdrawn, the existing telecom regulatory framework will remain unchanged for the time being.

KARACHI: The Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) Karachi has arrested a key suspected member of a militant network during an intelligence-based operation, officials said on Thursday. According to a CTD spokesperson, Syed Mehdi Nabvi Abidi, who was listed among the top 10 most-wanted suspects on the MQM-L death squad list, was taken into custody over alleged involvement in planning terrorist activities in Karachi and other parts of the country. Officials said the suspect was wanted in several terrorism-related cases registered in Karachi. During preliminary interrogation, he allegedly disclosed that following the arrest of two of his associates, he and other members of the network had planned attacks in Karachi and other cities. The CTD said the suspect had been nominated in multiple cases dating back to 2004 and 2005, including cases involving the killings of religious scholars and the alleged possession of explosives and other prohibited material. A hand grenade and a loudspeaker were reportedly recovered from his possession during the operation. Following the arrest, CTD Karachi registered two new cases against the suspect. One was registered under the Explosive Substances Act, 1908, read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997, while the second was registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act. The department said further interrogation of the suspect is underway. Special teams have also been formed to trace and arrest other alleged facilitators and members of the network based on information obtained during the investigation. The CTD maintained that operations against the network would continue as investigators work to establish the full extent of the suspect’s alleged activities and connections.

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has made it clear that the government will not allow anyone to undermine peace and public order, while reaffirming that citizens have the right to hold peaceful protests within the limits of the law. Speaking during a visit to the Frontier Corps (FC) Training Center in Shabqadar, Naqvi said peaceful demonstrations were a legitimate democratic right and would not be opposed as long as they remained lawful. However, he stressed that protests could not be used as a pretext for violence, vandalism or activities that threaten public safety and disrupt law and order. During the visit, the minister reviewed the training standards and operational preparedness of FC personnel stationed at the facility. He also received briefings on the security situation and challenges facing the region, along with measures being taken to protect citizens and maintain stability. Naqvi praised the Frontier Corps for its contribution to maintaining peace and security in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and acknowledged the role of its personnel in dealing with security challenges. The Interior Minister reiterated that maintaining peace and protecting public safety remained a priority, adding that lawful political and public activity would be respected while any attempt to disturb the peace would be dealt with according to the law.

ISLAMABAD: A high-level investigation committee constituted by the Prime Minister visited the Fire Brigade Headquarters on Thursday as part of its inquiry into the response to a recent fire incident. During the visit, the committee recorded statements from officers and staff of Capital Emergency Services who participated in the rescue operation. Officials provided details about the sequence of events and the measures taken after the fire was reported. Sources said the investigators examined the timeline of the incident, including the period between the outbreak of the fire and the arrival of emergency response teams. The committee also assessed the fire brigade’s response and reviewed the actions taken by personnel during the operation. The investigators sought information about difficulties and operational challenges encountered by the emergency teams while carrying out rescue and firefighting efforts. The committee is headed by retired Federal Secretary Shahid Khan and includes Major General (retd) Dr Khursheed Uttra, Dr Barrister Naeem Ahmed Awan and the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad. According to sources, the committee is scheduled to submit an interim report to the Prime Minister today. A comprehensive investigation report, along with recommendations based on its findings, is expected to be submitted within five days. The inquiry is aimed at determining the sequence of events, assessing the emergency response and identifying areas requiring improvement in the city’s firefighting and rescue arrangements.