The process of government formation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has reached a decisive turning point, with the formal announcement of the new prime minister expected later today. According to political insiders, AJK government formation reaches decisive phase as Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is likely to announce the party’s nominee for the top office, with Chaudhry Latif Akbar and Chaudhry Yaseen emerging as the leading contenders.
Sources have revealed that a no-confidence motion will be moved against the incumbent Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq if he refuses to step down voluntarily. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to support the PPP’s motion but will not become part of the new coalition government.
The AJK Legislative Assembly currently comprises 52 members after one resignation, with a simple majority requiring 27 votes. The PPP holds 17 seats, while the PML-N commands nine. Additionally, ten members from Barrister Sultan’s group and the Forward Bloc have pledged their support to the PPP, raising its total strength to 36 — comfortably surpassing the required majority. Meanwhile, Anwar-ul-Haq’s faction retains 10 members, PTI AJK holds four, and the Muslim Conference and Jammu Kashmir Peoples Party (JKPP) each have one seat.
If the no-confidence motion fails, parliamentary rules dictate that such a motion cannot be reintroduced for another six months. Political analysts view this moment as a defining test of parliamentary unity and strategic alignment between federal allies.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal described the joint no-confidence move by the PPP and PML-N as a clear display of political maturity and democratic responsibility. He said the decision reflected both parties’ commitment to ensuring effective governance and addressing AJK’s core issues.
Speaking after chairing a meeting of PML-N’s political coordination committee on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directives, Ahsan Iqbal said, “This is a sign of democratic maturity that two key stakeholders have agreed to pursue a no-confidence motion for better governance and political stability in Kashmir.” He added that one party would take charge of the new government while the other would responsibly perform its role as the opposition.
Ahsan Iqbal further stressed the importance of holding free and fair elections at the earliest to ensure a stable and development-oriented administration in AJK. He noted that the PML-N had been a minor partner in the outgoing coalition government and had long expressed concerns about its poor governance performance.
Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Amir Muqam confirmed that the PML-N would continue to uphold its earlier agreement with the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) regardless of which party leads the new government. He clarified that PML-N’s decision to sit in opposition would not affect its working relationship with the PPP.
Earlier, a PML-N delegation led by Ahsan Iqbal met President Asif Ali Zardari to discuss the formation of a PPP-led government in AJK. Both parties have reportedly increased pressure on the current AJK Prime Minister to resign honorably, as he appears to have lost majority support.
Sources close to the matter stated that Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq has been advised to “resign with dignity,” given that his parliamentary strength has weakened considerably. His remaining options include dissolving the assembly to prevent a new government, resigning voluntarily, or facing the no-confidence vote head-on.
