Thu, September 17, 2026
Muzaffarabad (Web Desk): Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore was elected Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) after the Legislative Assembly passed a no-confidence motion against Chaudhry Anwarul Haq on Monday.
Out of the Assembly members, 36 voted in favour of the motion, while only two opposed, both from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar, who was presiding over the session, officially announced PPP’s Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore as the new AJK premier following the vote.
The motion had been introduced by PPP lawmaker Qasim Majeed after a resolution was submitted to the Assembly secretariat on Friday afternoon.
The resolution carried the signatures of 25 legislators—23 from the PPP and two from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Chaudhry Anwarul Haq was present in the assembly at the start of the session. He approached Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, the PPP’s candidate for the top office, exchanged greetings, delivered a brief address, and then left the house.
Haq’s defeat had been widely anticipated, as the PPP had secured the support of at least 29 lawmakers—two more than the minimum required to pass the motion.
The PPP’s numbers in the AJK Legislative Assembly had risen in October when 10 lawmakers from the PTI forward bloc joined the party, increasing its strength to 27.
On Sunday, two more PTI legislators, Minister for Elementary Education Deewan Ali Chughtai and Minister for Small Industries Corporation Taqdees Kausar Gillani, also declared their move to the PPP after meeting party leader Faryal Talpur.
With roughly six months remaining in the assembly’s term, Rathore becomes the fourth prime minister of AJK in four years.
In August 2021, PTI had installed Abdul Qayyum Niazi as premier following a recommendation from then-PM Imran Khan. Niazi had received 35 votes in the 53-member house, defeating joint opposition candidate Latif Akbar, who managed only 15 votes. Nine months later, Niazi resigned, and PTI regional president Sardar Tanveer Ilyas took over the office.
In April 2023, Tanveer was disqualified by the full court bench of the AJK High Court for contempt, paving the way for Haq’s appointment.
Who is Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore?
Born on April 11, 1978 in Rawalpindi, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, is currently a member of the AJK Legislative Assembly and serves as the Secretary General of the PPP AJK.
Over the years, he has established himself as a prominent political figure with deep roots in the region's governance and political landscape.
Hailing from a distinguished political family, Faisal’s father Raja Mumtaz Rathore, held several key positions in Azad Kashmir, including Prime Minister, Speaker, Opposition Leader, and Senior Minister.
This legacy has provided Faisal Mumtaz Rathore with an intimate understanding of Kashmir’s political struggles and the historical and institutional dynamics of Pakistan-AJK relations.
Rathore has been elected multiple times to the Legislative Assembly, reflecting both his popularity among constituents and his electoral strength.
He has held significant ministerial portfolios, including Minister for Power and Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, which have equipped him with hands-on experience in governance, development planning, and public service delivery.
Faisal's tenure in opposition has further strengthened his grasp of policy-making, accountability, and oversight mechanisms.
Since 2017, Rathore has been serving as the Secretary General of PPP Azad Kashmir, playing a pivotal role in organizational management, political strategy, and consolidating the party’s presence at the regional level.
Party leadership, including Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Faryal Talpur, have expressed strong confidence in him. Known for his courteous, conciliatory, and non-controversial approach,
Rathore enjoys wide respect across political, public, and institutional circles. Recently, he was appointed head of a government-appointed negotiation committee in coordination with the Public Action Committee, highlighting his recognized skills in mediation and dialogue.
In addition to his political work, Rathore has experience hosting a private television program, further honing his media handling and public communication abilities.
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