Islamabad, July 29: The Legislative Assembly of Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) on Friday elected the nominee of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan as region’s new president.
 Khan, the former Prime Minister recently joined PPP, secured 40 votes whereas his rival candidate Khan Bahadur Khan of Pakistan Muslim League (N) bagged 11 votes. Besides the elected representatives of the legislative body the members of Kashmir Council also took part in the polling. Khan will take oath on 25 August 2011.
 Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan became the Prime Minister of PaK in 2009 after legislators brought no confidence motion against Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan.
 However, he had to resign nine months later after dissident groups of Muslim Conference joined hands and got Raja Farooq Hyder Khan elected as the leader of the House.
 Khan, hailing from Poonch district, is believed to be one of the leading industrialists and a successful businessman of the region. He entered into practical politics in late 90s.
 He had been a member of the Legislative Assembly in 2001 and 2006. He has also served as Minister of Health, Population Planning and Hydro Electric Board, Housing and Planning in Sardar Sikandar Hayat’s cabinet.
 Recently he won the general elections with thumping majority and defeated his rival candidate Sardar Khalid Ibrahim Khan with a margin of over 10,000 votes.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jul 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 30 Jul 2011 00:00:00 IST