Leadership overview: In AJK, PP leaders battle for top offices
Multiple leaders have emerged as contenders for the premiership and presidency.
MUZAFFARABAD:
Several senior leaders of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Party (PP), which emerged as the largest party in the AJK legislative assembly following the elections, have started vying for the two top government slots.
Two former prime ministers, a former and a sitting leader of the opposition in the legislative assembly, and two other senior party leaders are lobbying hectically in Islamabad to secure positions.
PP President Chaudhry Abdul Majeed and former prime minister and opposition leader Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, both belonging to the Mirpur District, are frontrunners for the office of the premiership and presidency.
Sardar Yaqub Khan, from Rawalakot District, a junior minister in the Muslim Conference’s government, happened to be lucky enough to clinch the premiership for nine months in 2009, when the ruling Muslim Conference was going through a crisis. He is considered a dark horse for both offices, though his chances seem to be fading.
A senior PP leader from Kotli district, Chaudhry Yasin, is said to have close relations with the Pakistan Peoples Party leadership in Pakistan, which may yet lead him to a top job in the government.
Former opposition leader Sardar Qamaruz Zaman from Bagh District is also lobbying to secure one of the top positions.
Former deputy opposition leader and PP Secretary General Choudhary Lateef Akbar is said to have a strong candidature for the office of presidency if the office of prime minister goes to Mirpur.
However, Choudary Yasin, Qamar Zaman and Lateef Akbar are more likely to be adjusted as speaker or senior ministers if the premiership and presidency go to Mirpur, as the chances of both top slots going to one district are relatively low.
The matter rests with the PPP leadership in Pakistan and President Asif Ali Zardari’s word will be final, but there are many in the party who will be considered by Zardari before any nomination.
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Mian Manzoor Watoo, federal minister Khurashid Shah, party secretary general Jehangir Badar, Qamar Zaman Kaira and President Zardari’s sister Faryal Talpur will play an active role in the nominations for top positions in the AJK government.
For this, PP leaders will have to go through another contest within the party after braving the contest on June 26.
Majeed and Mehmood, the frontrunners have been trying to strengthen their positions in the party besides lobbying in the federal capital and Larkana.
The tenure of the AJK President is going to end on August 25, and the election of a new president one month before the expiry of the term is a constitutional requirement under the AJK Interim Constitution Act of 1974.
The choices for AJK government may put the party in trouble if any senior leader is dropped from consideration.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 8th, 2011.
Several senior leaders of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Party (PP), which emerged as the largest party in the AJK legislative assembly following the elections, have started vying for the two top government slots.
Two former prime ministers, a former and a sitting leader of the opposition in the legislative assembly, and two other senior party leaders are lobbying hectically in Islamabad to secure positions.
PP President Chaudhry Abdul Majeed and former prime minister and opposition leader Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry, both belonging to the Mirpur District, are frontrunners for the office of the premiership and presidency.
Sardar Yaqub Khan, from Rawalakot District, a junior minister in the Muslim Conference’s government, happened to be lucky enough to clinch the premiership for nine months in 2009, when the ruling Muslim Conference was going through a crisis. He is considered a dark horse for both offices, though his chances seem to be fading.
A senior PP leader from Kotli district, Chaudhry Yasin, is said to have close relations with the Pakistan Peoples Party leadership in Pakistan, which may yet lead him to a top job in the government.
Former opposition leader Sardar Qamaruz Zaman from Bagh District is also lobbying to secure one of the top positions.
Former deputy opposition leader and PP Secretary General Choudhary Lateef Akbar is said to have a strong candidature for the office of presidency if the office of prime minister goes to Mirpur.
However, Choudary Yasin, Qamar Zaman and Lateef Akbar are more likely to be adjusted as speaker or senior ministers if the premiership and presidency go to Mirpur, as the chances of both top slots going to one district are relatively low.
The matter rests with the PPP leadership in Pakistan and President Asif Ali Zardari’s word will be final, but there are many in the party who will be considered by Zardari before any nomination.
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Mian Manzoor Watoo, federal minister Khurashid Shah, party secretary general Jehangir Badar, Qamar Zaman Kaira and President Zardari’s sister Faryal Talpur will play an active role in the nominations for top positions in the AJK government.
For this, PP leaders will have to go through another contest within the party after braving the contest on June 26.
Majeed and Mehmood, the frontrunners have been trying to strengthen their positions in the party besides lobbying in the federal capital and Larkana.
The tenure of the AJK President is going to end on August 25, and the election of a new president one month before the expiry of the term is a constitutional requirement under the AJK Interim Constitution Act of 1974.
The choices for AJK government may put the party in trouble if any senior leader is dropped from consideration.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 8th, 2011.