By Irfan Malik
MUZAFFARABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have formally signed a no-confidence motion against Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, effectively ending weeks of political deadlock between the two major parties.
PPP AJK Secretary-General Faisal Mumtaz Rathore confirmed on Wednesday that both parties had endorsed the motion, with PML-N’s Raja Farooq Haider signing on behalf of his party. “We currently have the open support of 37 members, while five more have assured us of their backing,” Rathore told Geo News.
He said that the name of the new AJK prime minister would be announced within the next two days.
Chaudhry Yaseen Finalised as New AJK PM Candidate
Sources revealed that the PPP has finalised Chaudhry Yaseen as its candidate for the position of AJK prime minister. The decision was made at a meeting held at Zardari House, chaired by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and attended by senior AJK leaders.
The meeting reportedly discussed four potential candidates — Chaudhry Yaseen, Chaudhry Latif Akbar, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, and Sardar Yaqub — before unanimously approving Yaseen’s nomination.
Earlier, the PML-N had agreed to support the no-confidence move on the condition that early elections would be held in the region. According to sources, the incoming AJK prime minister will first complete pending constitutional appointments and then set the stage for general elections.
PML-N sources said their ministers would resign after the motion is tabled, and the party would move to the opposition benches following the vote.
The no-confidence motion requires 27 votes for a simple majority. With PML-N’s backing, the PPP now claims the support of 37 assembly members.
The development follows a recent joint press conference after a meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari, where both parties reaffirmed their cooperation. PML-N leaders Rana Sanaullah and Ahsan Iqbal said their party would support the motion but not join the new government.
The PPP’s strength in the AJK Legislative Assembly has surged from 17 to 27 members after 10 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers defected to join its ranks.
The PTI legislators — including 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 — announced their decision at a meeting in Islamabad with PPP leaders Faryal Talpur and Chaudhry Riaz.
