Islamabad, Sep 24 Najeeb Naqi of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) was on Thursday elected as the “President” of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
He secured 32 votes, while his challenger Chaudhry Latif Akbar of Pakistan Peoples Party got 13 votes in the election held at PoK’s so-called legislative assembly. Only assembly members were eligible to vote.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Naqi on his victory and conveyed his best wishes, according to a statement issued by the PM’s office.
Naqi has previously served as health minister.
The office of “president” had been vacant since January following the death of Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry.
India has described the recent so-called local body elections in PoK as a “complete farce,” asserting that such “hollow” exercises cannot hide the ground reality in the region.
(PTI News)
