ISLAMABAD (MNN); The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Friday nominated Faisal Mumtaz Rathore as its candidate for the office of Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and filed a no-confidence motion against the incumbent premier, Chaudhry Anwarul Haq.
Addressing the media, PPP leader Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said that all party decisions are made after thorough internal consultations and emphasized that the move aims at the welfare of the people of AJK. “Considering the situation in Kashmir, we hope this decision proves beneficial,” he added.
The PPP’s efforts to consolidate power in AJK followed President Asif Ali Zardari’s political strategy revealed last month. The party’s strength in the Legislative Assembly increased after ten Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf lawmakers joined the PPP on October 26, in a meeting with Faryal Talpur at Zardari House, Islamabad.
The lawmakers who switched allegiance included Muhammad Hussain, Chaudhry Yasir, Chaudhry Muhammad Akhlaq, Chaudhry Arshad, Chaudhry Muhammad Rasheed, Zafar Iqbal Malik, Faheem Akhtar Rabbani, Abdul Majid Khan, Muhammad Akbar Ibrahim, and Asim Sharif Butt.
The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) also announced support for the no-confidence motion, but opted not to join the government, demanding early elections in the region. PML-N sources said their ministers would resign and the party would sit on the opposition benches following the vote.
A simple majority of 27 lawmakers is required to pass the motion, but PPP leaders claimed to have initially secured 36 votes, which later rose to 37. Former PM Raja Pervaiz Ashraf stated that the party is fully positioned to form the next administration in AJK, praising Faisal Rathore as a capable and educated leader and highlighting Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s diplomatic efforts after the Pahalgam incident.
PPP AJK President Chaudhry Yasin noted the party’s historical roots in Kashmir dating back to Benazir Bhutto and emphasized its strong position in the region, claiming that the party’s numbers could rise to 40 with PML-N support. Voting on the no-confidence motion is scheduled for Monday, and political activity in AJK is expected to intensify in the coming days.
