The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Secures Simple Majority to Form Government in Azad Kashmir after gaining the support of ten lawmakers from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) forward block. This significant political shift has positioned the PPP, under the leadership of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, as the leading force in the AJK Legislative Assembly.
PTI Forward Bloc Joins PPP at Zardari House
This development took place in Islamabad, where ten members of the AJK Legislative Assembly from PTI announced their decision to join the PPP during a meeting held at Zardari House. The meeting was led by Faryal Talpur, who is the President of the PPP Women’s Wing and sister of President Asif Ali Zardari, along with senior PPP leader Chaudhry Riaz.
The new members who joined the PPP include: Muhammad Hussain, Chaudhry Yasir, Chaudhry Muhammad Akhlaq, Chaudhry Arshad, Chaudhry Muhammad Rasheed, Zafar Iqbal Malik (the AJK Higher Education Minister), Faheem Akhtar Rabbani, Abdul Majid Khan, Muhammad Akbar Ibrahim, and Asim Sharif Butt.
After the announcement, Faryal Talpur subsequently hosted a dinner at Sindh House, attended by the new members as well as several senior PPP leaders from AJK, including Chaudhry Yasin, Sardar Yaqoob, Tanveer Ilyas, Latif Akbar, Mian Waheed, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, Zia-ul-Qamar, and Javed Iqbal Budhanvi.
PPP Claims Majority Backing
With these new additions, the PPP secures a simple majority to form government in Azad Kashmir, increasing its strength in the AJK Legislative Assembly from 17 to 27 members, granting the party a simple majority—the minimum needed to form a government or initiate a no-confidence motion.
According to senior party sources, five of the new members are affiliated with the Barrister Sultan group, three hold refugee seats, while the affiliations of two others remain undisclosed.
PPP AJK Secretary-General Faisal Mumtaz Rathore confirmed that the party now possesses “more than the required 27 votes” to establish the new government, stating:
“We are not seeking power just for the sake of authority; we are here to tackle the ongoing political crisis in Azad Kashmir.”
PML-N to Sit in Opposition
The PML-N is gearing up to take a backseat in the upcoming political landscape.
As the PPP seems poised to take charge, the PML-N leadership in AJK has made it clear that their lawmakers will be sitting in the opposition and won’t be backing any party in forming the government.
Former AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider shared his thoughts with Geo News, emphasizing the PML-N’s unwavering position:
“If the PPP manages to gather enough support, they will form the government. But if we end up voting for a PPP candidate, how can we explain that to our constituents tomorrow?”
He also pointed out the importance of having a robust opposition in AJK, noting that a stable government requires at least 30 to 32 votes.
Looking Ahead: Leadership and Political Landscape
Insider sources from the PPP have mentioned that Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin and Chaudhry Latif Akbar are in the running for the AJK premiership, with official decisions expected after discussions with the party’s central leadership.
In the meantime, President Asif Ali Zardari led a separate meeting of the PPP AJK parliamentary committee at the Aiwan-e-Sadr, urging members to stay united and prepare for a seamless political transition.
Former AJK premier Sardar Tanveer Ilyas reaffirmed the PPP’s dedication to democratic continuity, stating that “the party is focused on safeguarding political stability and ensuring governance that truly represents the will of the people in Azad Kashmir.”
Context: The AJK Political Scene
The AJK Legislative Assembly consists of 53 members, with 27 votes needed for a simple majority. Currently, the PPP holds 17 seats, the PML-N has 9, the PTI has 5, and smaller parties like the Muslim Conference and Jammu Kashmir Peoples Party each hold one seat. A notable bloc of 20 members has emerged within the assembly, shifting the political balance in the region.
The PPP’s achievement to secure a simple majority to form government in Azad Kashmir marks a pivotal moment in region’s political dynamics, bringing an end to months of uncertainty and ushering in a new era of political realignment in the area. Also read,
PPP Azad Kashmir Delays Final Decision After Consultative Meeting with Asif Ali Zardari
