MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) nominee Dr Muhammad Najeeb Naqi Khan has been elected President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir after securing 32 votes in the presidential election.

His rival, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate and former AJK Assembly speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar, secured 13 votes, while one member of the Legislative Assembly did not participate in the election.

A total of 46 members cast their votes in the presidential election held in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. Dr Najeeb Naqi received the support of 31 PML-N members as well as one member of the allied Awami Dast-o-Bazoo Party, taking his total to 32 votes. Chaudhry Latif Akbar secured 13 votes.

Under the Constitution of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, the president is elected by members of the Legislative Assembly and serves a five-year term. The AJK Legislative Assembly comprises 53 members, with 27 votes required to secure a simple majority.

Presidential Office Filled After Eight Months

The office of the AJK president had remained vacant since January 2026 following the death of Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry.

Chaudhry Latif Akbar initially served as acting president. After he was elected speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Chaudhry Tariq Farooq assumed the responsibilities of acting president.

The presidential office has now been filled permanently after approximately eight months, with Dr Najeeb Naqi being elected for a five-year term.

Dr Najeeb Naqi’s Political Background

Dr Muhammad Najeeb Naqi Khan belongs to Palandri in Sudhanoti district and comes from a prominent political family. He was born in Rawalpindi on January 19, 1964.

He received his early education at Aitchison College and later obtained his MBBS degree from King Edward Medical College, Lahore.

Dr Najeeb Naqi entered practical politics in the 1990s and was first elected to the AJK Legislative Assembly in 1991. He subsequently served as a member of the Legislative Assembly and the AJK Council during different periods.

From 2006 to 2011, he served in the AJK government, holding portfolios including health, education and information technology. During the PML-N government from 2016 to 2021, he also served as minister for health, finance, and planning and development.

In the 2026 general elections, Dr Najeeb Naqi was elected from constituency LA-21, Sudhanoti-Palandri, on a PML-N ticket. His latest election marked his fifth term as a member of the AJK Legislative Assembly.

Political Family Background

Dr Najeeb Naqi belongs to a political family with a longstanding presence in Azad Kashmir’s politics. His father, Colonel Muhammad Naqi Khan, also served as a member of the AJK Legislative Assembly and held the portfolios of health and food minister.

His grandfather, Colonel Khan Muhammad Khan, was also a prominent figure in the political and social history of the Poonch region.

With Dr Najeeb Naqi’s election, the constitutional office of President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir has been permanently filled after remaining vacant for nearly eight months. He will serve as president for a five-year term.