The Pakistan People’s Party has officially nominated Chaudhry Yasin as its candidate for Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s prime ministerial position amid an anticipated leadership transition through an in-house change.
Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari finalized the decision during a crucial meeting attended by PPP’s central and AJK leadership. Four prominent names—Chaudhry Yasin, Latif Akbar, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, and Sardar Yaqoob Khan—were considered before Bilawal announced Yasin as the party’s nominee. A formal announcement is expected shortly.
President Asif Ali Zardari recently convened the government’s Kashmir Affairs Committee in Islamabad, bringing together senior figures from PPP, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, and AJK leadership to evaluate the region’s political dynamics and explore prospects for governmental restructuring.
Following these deliberations, Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal confirmed that PML-N would support PPP’s no-confidence motion while remaining in opposition rather than joining the new administration. Sources indicate that a no-confidence motion will be presented against incumbent Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq should he decline to resign.
The political arithmetic strongly favors PPP’s move. With the AJK Legislative Assembly comprising 52 members after one resignation, the simple majority threshold stands at 27 lawmakers. PPP commands 17 members, while PML-N holds nine seats. Additionally, ten members from Barrister Sultan’s group and the Forward Bloc have pledged support, elevating PPP’s strength to 36—significantly surpassing the required majority.
Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq’s faction currently controls ten members, while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf AJK has four, and the Muslim Conference and Jammu Kashmir Peoples Party hold one seat each.
PTI Secretary-General Salman Akram Raja criticized both major parties, describing them as indistinguishable and lacking authentic opposition strategies for the AJK Assembly. Should the no-confidence motion fail, parliamentary rules prohibit reintroduction for six months.
