Muzaffarabad: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) have formally signed a no-confidence motion against Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, with sources indicating that the motion is likely to be submitted to the AJK Legislative Assembly today.
According to political sources, Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq has shown conditional willingness to resign, seeking assurances from party allies regarding the continuation of development funds and ongoing projects for his supporting ministers and assembly members before stepping down.
Following the submission of the motion, it is expected that PML-N legislators currently serving in the government will resign from their ministerial positions and shift to the opposition benches, aligning themselves with the no-confidence campaign led by the PPP.
While the PPP has not yet officially nominated a candidate for the post of new Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, party insiders suggest that two senior figures — Chaudhry Yasin and Chaudhry Latif Akbar — have emerged as strong contenders for the position. The no-confidence motion currently leaves the “Leader of the House” column blank, which will be filled once the final decision on the party’s candidate is made.
Reliable sources have also disclosed that former President Asif Ali Zardari has designated a special envoy who will travel to Muzaffarabad carrying a sealed letter containing the name of the PPP’s nominee for the top slot. The name will be revealed and inserted into the motion just before its formal submission, as per constitutional requirements mandating that the no-confidence motion must include the name of the proposed new leader.
Political observers note that the development marks a major shift in AJK’s power dynamics, potentially ending Anwar-ul-Haq’s tenure, which has faced increasing dissent from within allied parties. Analysts believe that both the PML-N and PPP are coordinating closely to ensure a smooth transition of power, with negotiations continuing over the composition of the next cabinet and distribution of key portfolios.
The AJK Legislative Assembly is expected to witness intense political activity in the coming days, with efforts underway to secure the required majority for the no-confidence motion. If successful, the move would pave the way for the formation of a new coalition government, likely led by the PPP with PML-N’s backing.
