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Zuliqarnain elected new President of PoK
Zuliqarnain, of the ruling Muslim Conference party, received 40 votes from members of the 49-seat assembly.
Lawmakers in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir elected prominent politician Raja Zuliqarnain as their new president on Thursday for a five-year term, an official said.
Zuliqarnain, of the ruling Muslim Conference party, received 40 votes from members of the 49-seat assembly and six provincial lawmakers who were also given the chance to cast a ballot for the new president, Mohammed Naseem, the chief election commissioner, told reporters.
His rival, Sardar Qamarul Zaman, secured eight votes, Naseem said. Six lawmakers abstained and one was not present.
Zuliqarnain will take charge next month when the term of current President Sardar Mohammed Anwar expires, Naseem said.
Zuliqarnain's election came days after lawmakers voted in party colleague Sardar Attiq Ahmed Khan as the region's new prime minister.
Kashmir is divided between Pakistan and India through a cease-fire line, but each claims the whole region, and have fought two of three wars over it after gaining independence from Britain in 1947.
