He obtained 48 votes out of a 52-strong house - the biggest mandate in the history of AJK assembly.

Interestingly, the lawmakers of PML-N and PPP also voted in his favour.

An emergency session of the assembly was held late on Wednesday. The candidates were given 12:40 am to 12:55 pm time to submit their nomination papers.

The AJK Assembly Secretary said that no nomination papers were submitted by the government, after which Speaker Anwarul Haq was elected unopposed.

The development took place after the disqualification of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Sardar Tanveer Ilyas by the AJK High Court in a contempt case.

Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, who hails from Bhimber district of Azad Kashmir, was first elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly on a PTI ticket in 2006.

He will take oath of office at 11:30 am today [Thursday], President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Barrister Sultan Mahmood will take oath from the newly elected Prime Minister.