PPP, PML-N decide to quit AJK govt

The PPP and the PML-N Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) chapters have decided to part ways with the Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq government.

A meeting was held at Zardari House in Islamabad on Wednesday under the leadership of Chaudhry Yasin, President of PPP AJK, attended by members of the parliamentary party and the core committee.

During the meeting, a unanimous resolution was passed stating that the PPP will withdraw from the current coalition government.

On October 11, PPP leader Faryal Talpur, who oversees political affairs in AJK, will preside over a PPP parliamentary party meeting in Karachi, where a final decision will be made regarding whether to remain in the government or not.

Three names have emerged as candidates for the Prime Minister's position from PPP: Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin (Party President), former AJK President Haji Muhammad Yaqoob and Chaudhry Latif Akbar.

On the other hand, PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir has also made it clear that his party prefers to leave the current government and sit in the opposition. However, he stated that the final decision will be made by the central leadership of the PML-N.

The PML-N President Shah Ghulam Qadir further said that PML-N would rather sit on the opposition benches than join a new government.

The current government in AJK is a coalition government between PML-N, PPP, the Jammu & Kashmir Peoples Party, and the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference.

However, in reality, Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq is running the government single-handedly. The premier became the 15th Prime Minister of AJK in April 2023 and had secured 48 votes in the 53-member assembly.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry termed all such stories "lies" and said there is no plan to remove Premier Haq.