MUZAFFARABAD, July 29: Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob Khan of People’s Party AJK was elected president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir by two-thirds majority here on Friday.

He will take oath of office on Aug 25 when the term of incumbent President Raja Zulqarnain Khan ends.

Polling for the presidential election was held between 12 noon and 3pm in the Legislative Assembly building here. All 47 members of the AJK Legislative Assembly, four of the six elected members of the AJK Council and federal in-charge minister of the AJK Council Manzoor Ahmed Wattoo cast their votes.

Mr Khan secured 40 votes, including that of the Muslim Conference and MQM lawmakers. His rival, Khan Bahadar Khan of PML-N, got 11 votes.

Born in February 1953 in Ali Sojal village of district Poonch, Yaqoob Khan, who was a minister in Sardar Sikandar Hayat’s cabinet (2001-06) and also in Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan’s cabinet (March 2007 to 2009), became the AJK premier after a rebel group of MC toppled Mr Attique’s government in January 2009 with the help of PPAJK lawmakers. He was, however, voted out in October 2009 after the divided MC groups reunited.

Speaking to reporters after his election, Mr Khan vowed to discharge his duties in accordance with the decorum of his office and in consultation with all political and religious parties.