MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Iftikhar Gilani was elected the 17th prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Friday, securing 30 votes in the legislative assembly.

Gilani defeated Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Sardar Mukhtar Khan, who received 14 votes.

The PML-N leader was first elected to the AJK Legislative Assembly in 2011. He has also served as AJK education minister.

He was elected to the AJK Legislative Assembly on the reserved seat for technocrats.

A day earlier, PML-N President Nawaz Sharif nominated Barrister Gilani as the party’s candidate for the office of AJK premiership.

The AJK Legislative Assembly has 53 seats, but its current strength stands at 46 as elections to seven seats in Poonch and Sudhnoti districts are yet to be held.

The PML-N has the support of 32 members in the AJK Legislative Assembly, including its ally, the Jammu and Kashmir Awami Dast-o-Bazu (JK ADB). The PPP has 14 members.