PPP, PML-N agree to move no-confidence motion against AJK govt

Islamabad (Web Desk): The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) have agreed to jointly submit a no-confidence motion against the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government, signalling the end of their cooperation with the current regional setup.

The announcement came from senior PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira during a press conference on Monday alongside Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah.

Kaira said that the present AJK administration, which both parties were earlier part of, had become a source of instability rather than a means to resolve challenges.

He noted that crises of such magnitude had twice compelled the federal government to intervene, and now both parties had reached a consensus to bring a no-confidence motion against the AJK government.

Kaira further explained that while the PML-N had previously decided to move to the opposition benches—a step not initially supported by the PPP—the latter accepted it in the broader political interest.

He stressed the need for improved governance, stability, and credible elections in AJK to ensure genuine representation of the people, adding that the timing of the motion would be decided in consultation with the prime minister.

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal maintained that the PML-N regarded the existing setup in AJK as a failed administration that could not fulfill its obligations.

He said that a high-level committee formed by both parties had assessed the situation in the region and concluded that the government had failed to deliver on promises of good governance and prosperity, making a leadership change through democratic means unavoidable.

Rana Sanaullah echoed similar concerns, saying the AJK government’s inefficiency had created a political vacuum that gave rise to further complications. He remarked that any new government should prioritize addressing public grievances and ensure transparent and credible elections.

According to political insiders, the PPP is now preparing to nominate its own candidate to lead the next AJK government as Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq faces imminent removal.

The plan to restructure the regional administration received approval from President Asif Ali Zardari after his meeting with AJK lawmakers on Saturday.

 The development prompted several members of the forward bloc to join the PPP, which currently partners with the PML-N at the federal level.

If executed successfully, the move will make Anwarul Haq the fourth prime minister to be replaced in the current assembly’s term. After his discussions with AJK legislators, President Zardari also conferred with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to inform him about his party’s decision and strategy for forming the new government.

The AJK Legislative Assembly consists of 52 members, and a simple majority requires 27 votes. At present, the PPP holds 17 seats, the PML-N nine, the PTI four, while the Muslim Conference and Jammu Kashmir Peoples Party each have one.

The PPP’s position was strengthened after ten lawmakers from the forward bloc joined its ranks on Sunday, a day after Zardari’s meeting in which he reaffirmed his party’s commitment to reconciliation and political tolerance.

Party sources said that President Zardari termed the move to take control of the AJK government as an extraordinary yet necessary decision, expressing confidence that the PPP would deliver effectively under challenging conditions.

Reports suggest that Sardar Yaseen is the leading contender for the position of AJK prime minister, though the final decision rests with Zardari following internal consultations.

With around six months left before the assembly’s tenure ends, this development would mark another shift in AJK’s turbulent political timeline.

The region has already witnessed three prime ministers in less than five years—PTI’s Abdul Qayyum Niazi, who resigned after nine months; Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, who was disqualified by the AJK High Court in 2023; and Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, who now faces removal following over two years in power.