AJK PM Gilani Promises 48-Hour Internet Restoration Across Region

Newly elected Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Barrister Iftikhar Gilani has pledged to restore internet services across the region within 48 hours. Speaking during his first visit to the Central Press Club in Muzaffarabad, Gilani announced that connectivity would be restored in phases, with educational institutions receiving priority access in the initial stage, according to local reports.

The AJK premier also stated that all entry and exit routes in the region would be fully restored within two days. Internet and cellular services were 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 Assembly. The AJK government later banned JAAC, classifying it as a proscribed organization under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).

During his address, Gilani emphasized that good governance and the Kashmir freedom movement would be the primary focus areas of his administration. He committed to swift action on public issues, improving administrative efficiency, and ensuring 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 and secured 30 votes in the legislative assembly, defeating Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidate Sardar Mukhtar Khan, who received 14 votes.

Gilani, who previously served as AJK’s education minister, was first elected to the AJK Legislative Assembly in 2011. The PML-N emerged as the largest party in the recent three-phase general elections, winning 25 seats compared to the PPP’s 11. In the first phase, held in 13 constituencies of Mirpur Division, the PML-N won nine seats while the PPP secured four. The second phase, conducted on August 2 across eight constituencies of Muzaffarabad Division and 12 refugee constituencies, saw the PML-N win 15 seats against the PPP’s six. In the final phase, one seat each went to the PML-N and PPP, finalizing their totals at 25 and 11 seats, respectively.

The PML-N later secured six of the eight reserved seats, bringing its total strength in the AJK Legislative Assembly to 31 seats.

#AJKInternetRestoration #AzadJammuKashmir #BarristerIftikharGilani #PMLN #JAAC #KashmirFreedomMovement #AJKLegislativeAssembly