Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif has been given the final authority to decide the party’s nominee for leader of the house in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), according to sources.

The decision was taken during a PML-N parliamentary party meeting chaired by Nawaz Sharif in Murree, attended by the party’s newly elected AJK lawmakers.

The meeting discussed government formation, key parliamentary positions and the incoming administration’s political and development priorities.

Sources said Nawaz Sharif would announce the name of the leader of the house within the next few days. The meeting also included consultations on other important parliamentary positions.

Nawaz congratulates newly elected lawmakers

Addressing the meeting, Nawaz congratulated the newly elected PML-N members on their victory in the AJK elections.

He urged the lawmakers to honour the public mandate through performance and said there was no room for disappointing voters who had placed their trust in the party.

Nawaz said PML-N had always treated its political opponents with respect, adding that political differences should not turn into personal enmity.

He said the party’s lawmakers had strongly contested their opponents’ election campaigns but now had the responsibility of delivering for the people.

Focus on development

Nawaz said the situation in AJK was a source of concern and called for greater allocation of funds for the region.

He said the people of AJK should be provided with facilities such as the Kisan Card and dignified employment opportunities.

Drawing a comparison with Punjab, Nawaz said AJK should also undergo development and transformation.

He said Pakistan was moving forward and not backward, adding that children in AJK also aspired to have access to laptops.

Nawaz credited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with laying the foundation for development in Punjab and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz with taking the process forward.

He also said AJK’s mountainous terrain made a helicopter necessary for the regional government and called on PM Shehbaz to provide one.

Nawaz said the new government would soon overcome AJK’s problems and criticised the previous AJK administration for failing to meet public expectations.

He urged the newly elected lawmakers to work hard to fulfil the expectations of the people and prove their mandate through tangible performance.