Sardar Tanvir Ilyas takes oath as prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir

MUZAFFARABAD (92 News) - Sardar Tanvir Ilyas took the oath as prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

President Barrister Sultan Mahmood administered the oath to the newly-elected prime minister.

After taking the oath, Prime Minister Sardar Tanvir Ilyas issued a notification regarding restoration of the two sacked ministers.

Earlier, Sardar Tanvir Ilyas was elected the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir unopposed.

According to Speaker Anwarul Haq, the new Leader of the House got 33 votes. Owing to the boycott of the joint opposition, there was no candidate against the PTI candidate.

Members of the AJK Legislative Assembly congratulated the newly elected prime minister by thumping desks.

Addressing the House, the newly-elected Prime Minister Sardar Tanvir Ilyas said that the Kashmir independence movement will be his priority. "A new era of progress will start in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. I will advance the Kashmir policy of PTI chairman Imran Khan," he maintained.

He expressed the resolve to promote the democratic norms in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. "AJK has a big potential of tourism and we will make it the source of income," he declared.

In a tweet, Sardar Tanvir Ilyas said: "Finally, it culminated in my election as prime minister of the state which, I consider, is only a beginning of my public service. I want to make a special mention of my whole family including my wife and children for standing by my side through thick and thin. The struggle has been arduous which spanned many a years.

I am grateful to all those who voted for me today; particularly, my party chairman Imran Khan for reposing trust in me. Equally thankful to the people of my constituency for choosing me as their representative."