The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has announced forming its own government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir after President Asif Ali Zardari reportedly greenlighted the party’s decision to oust incumbent Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq.
The decision was taken following back-to-back meetings chaired separately by President Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
The meeting – chaired by Zardari at President’s House in Islamabad – was attended by party chairman Bilawal, Faryal Talpur, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, and Qamar Zaman Kaira.
During the meeting, the president gave assent to bring a no-confidence motion against the incumbent prime minister, sources said. Moreover, they added that Zaradri will finalise the party’s nominee for the AJK premiership after consultations.
Sources also confirmed that Bilawal, who had also served as the country’s foreign minister, would formally announce government formation on Monday.
The meeting was attended by prominent PPP figures including Raja Pervez Ashraf, Qamar Zaman Kaira, Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, Chaudhry Latif Akbar, Sardar Javed Ayub, and Sardar Muhammad Yaqub Khan.
Other attendees included Mian Abdul Waheed, Javed Iqbal Bandhanvi, Syed Bazil Naqvi, Syed Zia Qamar, Chaudhry Qasim Majid, Chaudhry Amir Yasin, Amir Ghaffar Loon, Chaudhry Ali Shan, Javed Butt, Rafiq Neer, Sardar Ahmad Sagheer, Nabeela Ayub, and Chaudhry Pervez Ashraf.
Separately, sources told the media that the party is considering the names of Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin and Chaudhry Latif Akbar for the slot of AJK premier.
They said that PPP had secured the required numbers to pass the no-confidence motion if the current AJK prime minister refuses to step down.
Meanwhile, PPP AJK leader Chaudhry Yasin confirmed that the party had made a “final decision” to form its government.
“All parliamentary party members attended the meetings, which included detailed and comprehensive discussions,” Yasin told reporters.
He added that the decision on who would become the next AJK prime minister would be taken by the party leadership, and that Bilawal Bhutto would formally announce the name.
A separate session chaired by Bilawal Bhutto, earlier in the day, had endorsed an in-house change, with party leaders agreeing to move a no-confidence motion against the incumbent AJK premier.
Earlier, PPP leader Kaira – while speaking to journalists outside Zardari House -said that while the situation in AJK was “worrying for all parties,” the final decision would be made after consultation with President Zardari.
“We have heard that the PML-N has decided to sit in the opposition, but we have not been officially informed,” he added.
Kaira said the party would hold another meeting with the president before formally announcing details to the media, noting that governments are formed when the required number is achieved.