Imran Khan's party picks new 'premier' of Pak-occupied Kashmir, India rejects elections

India has rejected sharply after Imran Khan's PTI party elected regional president Sardar Tanveer Ilyas as the new "premier" of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf's regional president Sardar Tanveer Ilyas was on Monday elected as new "premier" of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in an election boycotted by the Opposition.

Khan nominated Ilyas as the party's candidate after his hand-picked "premier" Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi resigned on Thursday following a revolt in the ruling party against him. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) jointly fielded Chaudhry Yasin against Ilyas.

The united opposition boycotted the session for the election of the prime minister, leaving no candidate in the race against Ilyas. The PTI leader secured 33 votes in his favour, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Niazi had resigned on Thursday after 25 lawmakers of his party moved a resolution of no-confidence motion against him. His ouster came days after Khan lost a no-confidence vote in the National Assembly, becoming the first Pakistan prime minister to be removed unceremoniously from power.

Niazi came to power last year after PTI secured 32 seats in the 53-member House.

India had rejected the elections in PoK, saying the "cosmetic exercise" was nothing but an attempt by Pakistan to "camouflage its illegal occupation".

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