Elections are being held in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) amid widespread protests and violence. During an election rally, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) president and former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that if his party wins, he would like to become the Prime Minister of POK.
While his supporters welcomed the statement with loud applause, experts say the claim is not legally possible.
Why Experts Say Nawaz Sharif Cannot Become POK PM
Speaking to ABN News, Pakistani political analyst Nayyar Hussain Bukhari said Nawaz Sharif’s statement came too late.
He said Sharif should have announced his intention when nomination papers were being filed.
According to Bukhari, Nawaz Sharif cannot contest the election because:
- He is not a registered voter in POK.
- He is not eligible to contest from refugee-reserved seats.
The analyst said the statement was only political rhetoric and has no legal basis.
What Nawaz Sharif Said
Addressing a PML-N election rally in Muzaffarabad, Nawaz Sharif said that if his party wins the upcoming elections, he will ask Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to appoint him as the Prime Minister of POK.
He said he has a deep emotional connection with Kashmir and believes the region has not received enough development.
Sharif added that if he becomes POK Prime Minister, he will personally oversee development projects. Even if he does not get the post, he said the party’s local leadership will implement the election manifesto.
Elections Amid Ongoing Protests
Pakistan has announced voting in POK on July 27, despite large-scale protests continuing in the region.
The protests have been taking place since June 9 under the leadership of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).
Why Are People Protesting?
The recent protests are mainly linked to the issue of seats reserved for refugees in the POK Assembly.
Despite the unrest, the Pakistani government has decided to go ahead with the elections.
Although the government has banned the JAAC, the protests have continued.
People in the region are also protesting against rising inflation and accusing the Pakistani government and military of failing to address their concerns.
First published on: Jul 22, 2026 11:32 PM IST
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