AJK Government Formation Efforts Accelerate Following High-Level Talks
The critical process of AJK government formation has entered a decisive phase, following a high-level telephone conversation between President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. According to sources, the two leaders discussed the evolving political situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, with President Zardari briefing the Prime Minister on the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) strategy to establish a new government in the territory. This dialogue underscores the significant political developments underway.
Subsequent to this discussion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the PML-N’s special committee on AJK affairs—led by Ahsan Iqbal and including members Rana Sanaullah and Amir Muqam—to initiate formal talks with the PPP. The committee has immediately begun internal consultations with the PML-N’s AJK chapter to determine its official stance. However, the PML-N’s position was seemingly clarified by its parliamentary leader and former AJK prime minister, Raja Farooq Haider, who firmly reiterated that his party will sit in opposition and will not participate in any coalition government.
PPP Finalizes Strategy for a No-Confidence Motion
In parallel, the PPP leadership has been actively finalizing its action plan. Separate high-level meetings were chaired by President Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. A key session at the President’s House, attended by senior party figures including Bilawal, Faryal Talpur, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, and Qamar Zaman Kaira, resulted in the approval of a plan to move a no-confidence motion against the incumbent AJK Premier, Chaudhry Anwarul Haq. President Zardari is expected to finalize the party’s nominee for the premiership after further consultations.
Party insiders have confirmed that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will formally announce the government formation plan on Monday. The names of senior party members Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin and Chaudhry Latif Akbar are reportedly under consideration for the top position. Chaudhry Yasin himself informed reporters that the party has taken a “final decision” to form the government, leaving the selection of the specific nominee to the party leadership.
The Complex Arithmetic of the Legislative Assembly
The success of the PPP’s plan hinges on the complex arithmetic of the 52-member AJK Legislative Assembly, where a simple majority of 27 votes is required. Currently, the PPP holds 17 seats, while the PML-N has nine, and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has four. The Muslim Conference and Jammu Kashmir Peoples Party each hold one seat. A significant factor is the presence of a 20-member forward bloc within the assembly.
To cross the 27-seat threshold, the PPP requires additional support. While an alliance with the PML-N would bring their combined strength to 26, the PML-N’s public declaration to sit in opposition has led the PPP to intensify its outreach to members of the forward bloc to secure the necessary numbers for government formation.
A Resolution Expected Within 48 Hours
With negotiations at a critical juncture, sources indicate that incumbent Premier Chaudhry Anwarul Haq has begun his own consultations and is expected to make a significant decision within the next 48 hours. This could involve either tendering his resignation or facing a no-confidence motion. PPP leaders have expressed confidence, stating they have secured the required numbers to successfully table and pass a no-confidence motion if the incumbent refuses to step down voluntarily, though this claim has not yet been publicly demonstrated.
Speaking to the media, PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira described the political situation in AJK as “worrying for all parties” and stated that the party would hold further consultations with the president before making formal announcements. He also noted that while the PML-N has publicly stated its intention to sit in opposition, the PPP had not received a formal notification to that effect. As the political landscape remains fluid, all parties are anticipating major developments, with Bilawal’s scheduled announcement on Monday poised to set the future course for the AJK government formation.
