ISLAMABAD (MNN); In a significant political development ahead of the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, former AJK Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas formally joined the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) on Thursday, along with several of his close political associates.
IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan welcomed Tanveer Ilyas and his delegation into the party, describing their inclusion as a major boost for the IPP’s growing political influence in Azad Kashmir.
Several prominent political leaders also announced their affiliation with the IPP, including former adviser to the AJK prime minister Sardar Iftikhar Rasheed, former AJK Health Minister Nisar Ansar Abdali, and former Agriculture Minister Chaudhry Ali Shan Soni.
The newly inducted leaders expressed complete confidence in the leadership of Abdul Aleem Khan and pledged to strengthen the party’s organizational structure ahead of the elections.
The latest development follows another major breakthrough for the IPP earlier this week. On Wednesday, candidates from both the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) announced their decision to join the party in Kotli.
According to party sources, Malik Zulfiqar Ali, contesting from LA-8, and Malik Muhammad Yousaf, contesting from LA-10, met Abdul Aleem Khan and formally declared their support for the IPP.
Political observers view these defections as an indication of shifting political alignments in Azad Kashmir as parties intensify preparations for the forthcoming Legislative Assembly elections.
Earlier, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has directed Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore to accelerate public outreach efforts as the party gears up for the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections.
The directive was issued during a meeting between the two leaders on Thursday to review the party’s election strategy and campaign preparations. PPP Azad Kashmir President Chaudhry Yasin also attended the meeting.
Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari reaffirmed his close association with the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, stating that they hold a special place in his heart. He announced plans to visit every district of AJK during the election campaign to mobilize party workers and connect with voters.
The PPP chairman emphasized that the Kashmir issue has always remained central to the party’s ideology and recalled that the PPP has consistently highlighted the Kashmir cause at international forums.
He reiterated the party’s commitment to addressing the concerns of the people of Kashmir and instructed party leaders to effectively communicate the PPP manifesto across every constituency of Azad Kashmir.
During the meeting, participants also received a detailed briefing on campaign arrangements, organizational readiness, and preparations for the forthcoming Legislative Assembly elections.
