MUZAFFARABAD – The fate of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq hangs in the balance as the regional assembly is set to hold a vote on a no-confidence motion against him today (Monday).
The assembly session will convene at 3 PM in Muzaffarabad.
If the motion passes, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is poised to become the 16th Prime Minister of AJK, marking the fourth PM of the current assembly.
A simple majority of 27 votes is required for the no-confidence motion to succeed. The PPP claims to have garnered the support of 38 members, with the backing of 2 additional members from the PTI Forward Block, boosting their vote count.
The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N), which has also pledged support for the no-confidence motion, has confirmed its endorsement but stated that it will not participate in the future coalition government. The PML-N’s backing is reflected in the signatures of party leaders Shah Ghulam Qadir, President of AJK PML-N, and Raja Farooq Haider.
Despite mounting pressure, Prime Minister Anwarul Haq has decided to face the motion instead of resigning. He was elected in April 2023 with 48 votes, and should the no-confidence motion pass, he will be removed from office.
In the event of a successful vote, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore will be sworn in as the new Prime Minister of AJK, with the oath-taking ceremony scheduled for Tuesday, November 18. It is expected that key members of the PPP’s central leadership will attend the ceremony.
