MUZAFFARABAD: 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.
Addressing the media during his first visit to the Central Press Club after taking office, he said that internet connectivity will be restored in a phased manner, with educational institutions receiving priority access in the initial phase, according to The News.
The AJK premier said that AJK’s entry and exit routes will also be fully restored in 48 hours.
Internet and cellular services were suspended earlier this year after protests by the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) demanding the abolition of 12 refugee seats in the AJK Assembly turned violent.
The AJK government later banned JAAC, declaring it a proscribed organisation under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA).
Meanwhile, PM Gilani highlighted good governance and the Kashmir freedom movement as the primary focus areas of his administration.
He pledged swift action to resolve public issues, improve administrative efficiency and guarantee essential civic facilities.
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 the reserved seat for technocrats.
Gilani secured 30 votes for the top slot in the legislative assembly, 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. He has also served as AJK education minister.
The PML-N emerged as the largest party in the recently concluded three-phase general elections, securing 25 seats against 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.
PML-N further strengthened its position in the second phase, conducted on August 2 across eight constituencies of Muzaffarabad Division and all 12 refugee constituencies, winning 15 seats compared with the PPP’s six.
The third and final phase saw results from 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, taking its strength in the AJK Legislative Assembly to 31 seats.
