Azad Kashmir’s new prime minister exposes the state of its democracy

Iftikhar Gillani lost the election in his own constituency, yet he has been chosen to lead Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The lawyer and local Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader reached the top office after winning a reserved seat for technocrats.

His nomination reportedly surprised even his own party. Gillani had also lost the previous election, leaving voters with a basic question: whose nominee is he?

The choice stands out even in a region where governments are often made and removed from outside. That it happened here, amid deep doubts about the state of democracy, makes the appointment especially striking.

The legitimacy of the recently held regional elections has already been questioned. Voting took place during a popular uprising in parts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and even mainstream parties such as the Pakistan Peoples Party have voiced concerns. Gillani was not nominated by the PML-N’s local chapter. The party’s central leadership in Lahore selected him instead.

His election to the highest office in the sensitive region has therefore become another test of how much power voters and local political organizations actually hold.