Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Massive Rebellion has erupted within the ranks of AJK PPP, PML-N AJK chapter amid the reports that a good number of legislators of both the parties have cast their votes in favour of Muslim Conference (MC) candidate in Azad Jammu Kashmir Council (AJKC) polls against their respective party policy.

These estranged legislators of PPP and PML-N paved the way for victory of MC candidate in the prevailing situation when his reaching the victory stand was a thing next to impossible as MC holds only 4 seats in AJK Legislative Assembly and its candidate emerged triumphant with bagging 14 votes.

On the other hand PPP members Younis Mir and Pervez Akhtar Awan were elected by obtaining 11 votes each and Malik Pervez Akhtar from PML-N carved a niche on victory stand by bagging 12 votes.

Sources said that two legislators including Shaukat Ali Shah and Chaudhry Ismail from PML-N and five ministers of PPP supported MC candidate in the election. Two votes from PTI including Barrister Sultan Mehmood and Chaudhry Arshid were also polled in favour of MC candidate Mukhtar Abbasi. Two legislators from MQM and the legislator who was elected on technocrat seat also played vital role in the win of MC candidate with extending their unstinted support to him.

Sources said that 5 ministers of ruling PPP who proved to be instrumental in the victory of MC candidates include Law Minister Azhar Gillani, Revenue Minister Ali Shan, Minister of Prisons, Muhammad Hussain Sargala, Minister for Rehabilitation, Majid Khan and member elected on technocrat seat. Tahir Khokhar and Salim Butt are from MQM who were amongst the supporters of MC candidate. MC four legislators who backed their candidate are President MC, Sardar Attique Ahmad Khan, Sardar Siyab Khalid, Malik Nawaz and Mehr un Nisa.

The four ministers of PPP including Azhar Gillani, Ali Shan, Muhammad Hussain Sargala and Majid Khan have resigned from their ministries’.

It is pertinent to mention here that PPP had awarded ticket to Mir Younis, candidate from Muzaffarabad at the highest price running into billion of rupees and oath was taken on Holy Quran from PPP legislators for casting vote in favour of Mir Younis. However, certain ministers did not attend the party oath related meeting. Some had informed party leadership for not casting votes in support of PPP candidates.

PML-N had also directed its legislators to support party ticket holder in the polls but two legislators deviated from party line and demonstrated dissention by extending support to MC candidate. One vote from Mir Akbar could not go to PML-N candidate as he did not turn up for fear of falling in the ambit of floor crossing. Therefore, PML- N candidate could poll only 12 votes while it enjoyed numerical superiority in assembly over MC.

PPP and PML-N party stalwarts have started mulling over ways and means to plug further rebellious exodus from respective parties.

Sources said that dissidents from PPP and PML-N have settled their matters with PTI and MC and they all will soon be on the way to joining them.