MUZAFFARABAD, 30 August, 2026 (Ghufran): Newly elected Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Barrister Iftikhar Gilani has announced plans to restore internet services across the region within two days, with educational institutions to receive priority access during the initial phase. Addressing the media during his first visit to the Central Press Club after assuming office, Prime Minister Gilani said internet connectivity would be restored in a phased manner to facilitate citizens and institutions across AJK. The AJK premier also announced that the region’s entry and exit routes would be fully restored within 48 hours. Internet and cellular services had been suspended earlier this year following violent protests by the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which had demanded the abolition of 12 refugee seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly. The AJK government subsequently banned the JAAC and declared it a proscribed organisation under the Anti-Terrorism Act.

Prime Minister Gilani said good governance and the Kashmir freedom movement would remain the primary priorities of his administration. He pledged swift measures to address public grievances, improve administrative efficiency and ensure the provision of essential civic facilities. Barrister Iftikhar Gilani, a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), was sworn in as the 17th prime minister of AJK on August 28. He was elected to the AJK Legislative Assembly on a reserved seat for technocrats. Gilani secured 30 votes in the assembly to win the top office, defeating 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 and has also served as the AJK education minister. The PML-N emerged as the largest party in the recently concluded three-phase general elections, securing 25 seats, while the PPP won 11. In the first phase, held across 13 constituencies of the Mirpur Division, the PML-N won nine seats and the PPP secured four. During the second phase, conducted on August 2 across eight constituencies of the Muzaffarabad Division and all 12 refugee constituencies, the PML-N won 15 seats compared with the PPP’s six. The third and final phase covered two constituencies, with one seat each going to the PML-N and PPP, taking their final general-election tallies to 25 and 11 respectively. The PML-N later secured six of the eight reserved seats, increasing its strength in the AJK Legislative Assembly to 31 seats. Prime Minister Gilani reiterated his commitment to addressing public concerns, strengthening governance and ensuring the restoration of essential services across Azad Jammu and Kashmir.