Pakistan, Aug. 28 -- Barrister Syed Iftikhar Ali Gillani has become Azad Jammu and Kashmir's new prime minister. His rise follows a political journey marked by victories, defeat and an unexpected return. At 46, he now holds the territory's highest elected office.

Born in Muzaffarabad on July 27, 1980, Gillani received his early education in Islamabad. He later moved to London and earned a bachelor's degree from SOAS. In 2005, he qualified as a barrister at Lincoln's Inn. He enrolled as a lawyer in Islamabad the following year.

Politics was familiar to Gillani because of his family background. His grandmother was known in Muzaffarabad for charitable work and community support. His grandfather, Syed Bunyad Ali Shah Gillani, was a prominen...