MUZAFFARABAD: Senior parliamentarian Chaudhry Abdul Majeed of the People's Party AJK was sworn in as 11th prime minister of Azad Kashmir on Tuesday.
President Raja Zulqarnain Khan administered the oath at a ceremony in the Legislative Assembly.Outgoing premier Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, PML-N chief organiser Raja Farooq Haider, Kashmir Affairs Minister Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo, PPP secretary-general Jehangir Badar and President Asif Ali Zardari's political secretary Rukhsana Bangash attended the ceremony.
Mr Majeed was earlier elected leader of the house by 35 MLAs, including five of the Muslim Conference and two of the MQM.
His lone rival Raja Farooq Haider of the PML-N bagged 11 votes.
Mr Haider, who was elected from two constituencies, became a candidate only after he had been sworn in by Speaker Sardar Ghulam Sadiq as MLA from LA 28, Muzaffarabad-V.
After his election, Mr Majeed was felicitated by lawmakers and he assured them that he would use his abilities and experience to come up to people's expectations.
Mr Majeed, who was born in 1948 in Tangdev village of Mirpur district, is a 1969 law graduate from Karachi's S.M. Law College.
In a speech at the swearing-in ceremony, Mr Majeed vowed to bring about a positive change in the system and adhere to law, respect the rule of merit and reduce non-developmental expenditures and unemployment.
He congratulated the AJK Chief Election Commissioner for “holding free, fair and impartial elections,” and said his government would respect the mandate of the opposition.
Mr Majeed said that the Kashmir issue served as the foundation of his party and his government would strive for the success of the just struggle of the people of Kashmir in consultation with all political parties in the state.
He expressed his gratitude to President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani and other leaders of the party for reposing trust in him.
Later, Chaudhry Mohammad Yasin, who was a candidate for the PM's post, was sworn in as Senior Minister.
Mr Majeed left for Islamabad in the after- noon to take part in consultations about the party's candidate for the presidential election.
