ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has given the green light to the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) decision for an in-house change in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), agreeing to bring a no-confidence motion against AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq. The PPP has formally announced its intention to form its own government in the AJK.
The decision was made during a meeting of the PPP’s AJK Parliamentary Party with President Asif Ali Zardari at the Aiwan-e-Sadr on Saturday.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, the President of PPP’s Azad Jammu and Kashmir chapter, Chaudhry Yasin, stated that the party had reached a final decision to form its government in the AJK. “The party leadership will decide who will be the next prime minister,” he added, noting that Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari would announce the name of the new premier by Monday.
Chaudhry Yasin mentioned that all members of the parliamentary party attended the session, which was held in two parts. The first session was chaired by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, while the second was presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari.
He said the meeting involved detailed and comprehensive discussions on the current political situation in Azad Kashmir and the strategy for government formation.
He reiterated that the party was united under its leadership and ready to take the next step towards establishing a PPP-led government in the AJK.
Meanwhile, PPP sources said that Chaudhry Yasin, Chaudhry Latif Akbar and Sardar Yaqoob Khan are being considered for the position of AJK prime minister.
The sources added that the PPP has secured the required numbers in the AJK Legislative Assembly to ensure the success of a no-confidence motion if the incumbent prime minister refuses to resign.
A two-paragraph announcement issued by the Aiwan-e-Sadr stated that leaders of the AJK PPP called on President Asif Ali Zardari and discussed issues related to AJK’s governance and the party’s role.
The meeting was also attended by party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PPP Women’s Wing President Faryal Talpur and other senior leaders.
Earlier, a meeting of the PPP AJK Parliamentary Group, chaired by Bilawal at Zardari House on Saturday, reviewed the current political situation in the AJK and decided to form its own government by bringing a no-confidence motion against AJK Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq.
The session was part of the party’s broader consultations on potential political developments in the AJK, including the possibility of an in-house change.
The consultative session at Zardari House — attended by both PPP AJK and PPP Pakistan leadership — concluded with an agreement to replace the incumbent AJK prime minister.
PPP’s AJK leadership also presented its recommendations to Chairman Bilawal regarding the future political strategy. According to sources, the PPP believes the “numbers game” required for such a move has already been secured.
The meeting was attended by leading figures of the PPP AJK parliamentary party, including Chaudhry Muhammad Yaseen, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, Chaudhry Latif Akbar, Sardar Javed Ayub, Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan, Mian Abdul Waheed, Javed Iqbal Bandhanvi, Syed Bazil Naqvi, Syed Zia Qamar, Chaudhry Qasim Majid, Chaudhry Amir Yaseen, Amir Ghaffar Lone, Chaudhry Ali Shan, Javed Butt, Rafiq Nair, Sardar Ahmed Sagheer, Nabeela Ayub and Chaudhry Pervaiz Ashraf. Special invitees included Sardar Qamar Zaman, Chaudhry Muhammad Riaz and Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan.
PPP Women’s Wing President Faryal Talpur also attended the meeting alongside senior leaders Raja Pervez Ashraf and Qamar Zaman Kaira.
Earlier, PPP leader Kaira — while speaking to journalists outside Zardari House —said that while the situation in AJK was “worrying for all parties,” the final decision would be made after consultation with President Zardari.
Kaira said the party would hold another meeting with the president before formally announcing details to the media, noting that governments are formed when the required number is achieved.
Meanwhile, speaking on Geo News’ programme ‘Jirga’ with Saleem Safi, Minister of State for Interior Senator Talal Chaudhry said that the PMLN has decided to withdraw its support for AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, as the party gained “nothing but embarrassment” from backing him. Talal Chaudhry said the PMLN would now sit on the opposition benches in the AJK Legislative Assembly. He stated that Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq “talks a lot but delivers nothing,” adding that it was now time for him to make a decision about his political future. “The PMLN’s experience of supporting the current AJK government has brought only disrepute,” Talal remarked, stressing that the party had chosen to distance itself from the ongoing setup in Muzaffarabad.
Sources indicate that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has decided that if the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, does not resign voluntarily, a no-confidence motion will be moved against him, as the PPP claims to have the necessary numbers to succeed.
Sources further stated that the PPP will consult with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) and members of the Prime Minister’s Committee, including Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Amir Muqam and Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal, on the formation of the government.