AJK PM quits before no-trust motion

MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Khan on Monday stepped down from office ahead of a no-trust motion against him in the legislative assembly. He tendered his resignation to to AJK President Raja Zulqarnain in keeping with the state’s Interim Constitution Act of 1974.

By choosing to quit, Raja Farooq Haider Khan has created parliamentary history. In the 35-year history of the assembly never before  has a prime minister stepped down. In the end his decision was a reflection of the immense pressure he was facing.

Haider will stay in office until August 6, when the legislative assembly will meet to decide on a new leader of the house.

The proposed leader for the house is Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, president of Haider’s own party the All Jammu and Kashmir Muslim Conference. Sardar Attique, who enjoys the support of 18 cabinet ministers who had resigned earlier, arrived in Muzzafarabad on Monday and was brought to the legislative assembly amid a procession of supporters.

Haider announced his resignation at a press conference at the Kashmir House in Islamabad after prolonged consultations with his close aides. Earlier, he had unsuccessfully tried to call a meeting of his party to gather support.

He alleged that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) government had supported his opponents to table a no-trust motion against him and insisted that during his tenure, he had worked only to safeguard the national interest. He said that President Zardari had also opposed his government and supported PPP AJK president Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan in tabling the motion.

Haider had assumed office in October 2009 and had remained in power for nine months. Earlier, Haider had played a role in toppling the nine-month  old government of Sardar Yaqub Khan and before that, he had moved a no-confidence resolution against the government of Sardar Attique.

Meanwhile, Haider has decided to form the AJK chapter of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, who was expected to rescue Haider, gave his formal consent. The formation of PML-N AJK was on the cards since 2008 when the ruling Muslim Conference split into two.

A statement issued by the prime minister’s office says that Haider will support any aspirant except Sardar Attique, who he will also never accept as president of the Muslim Conference.

President Zardari, who Haider said had supported his ouster, will visit AJK on Tuesday and address the special joint session of the legislative assembly and the AJK council. This is Zardari’s first visit to the AJK since he assumed office.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 27^th, 2010.