Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq is expected to resign from office today (Monday), as political developments in the region move rapidly toward a change in government.
According to sources, Chaudhry Anwar may send his resignation to the AJK president later in the day. His scheduled press conference is also likely to be cancelled.
The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has already announced that it would file a no-confidence motion against the prime minister on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, consultations for the change of AJK government have entered the final phase.
A high-level PML-N delegation, including Ahsan Iqbal, Amir Muqam, and Rana Sanaullah, is set to meet PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari in Islamabad on Monday evening to discuss the political transition in AJK.
PPP leaders claim the party has now secured the simple majority required to form the next government.
The sources said the PPP has gained the support of four additional assembly members, bringing its total strength to 27.
Following this development, the formation of a new government in AJK appears imminent, and a final decision is expected within the next 24 to 48 hours.
Party sources said that PPP leader Faryal Talpur, who oversees AJK affairs, held key meetings in Islamabad with AJK political figures, including Majid Khan, Asim Butt, Akbar Ibrahim, and Faheem Rabbani, strengthening the party’s position in the AJK Assembly.
Faryal Talpur also hosted a dinner at Sindh House which was attended by members of the PPP parliamentary party, lawmakers representing refugee constituencies, and representatives of the Barrister Sultan group.
The sources revealed that five members from the Barrister Sultan group and five from refugee seats have pledged their support to the PPP, while the backing of two more members is being kept confidential for now.
Meanwhile, AJK Minister for Higher Education Malik Zafar Iqbal has also joined the PPP following a meeting with Faryal Talpur, pledging full support in government formation.
On Sunday night, Asif Ali Zardari chaired a meeting of the PPP’s parliamentary party in AJK, during which approval was given to table a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq.
Speaking to the media after the dinner, senior PPP leader Chaudhry Yasin said that the prime minister had earlier stated he would resign if 27 members stood against him.
“Now that the number has been achieved, he should honour his commitment and step down,” Yasin said, adding that if the resignation is not submitted within two days, the PPP will formally file the no-confidence motion.
Sardar Tanveer Ilyas also claimed that the “magical number of 27 has been achieved,” adding that “we have photos and videos as proof.”
He asserted that all members of the forward bloc were “essentially PPP workers” and that the new leader of the House would be chosen by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari.
Party sources said the PPP plans to demonstrate its numerical strength in a “power show” on Monday, after which Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq’s political future will likely be decided within the next 48 hours.
Chaudhry Yasin added that the prime minister’s resignation on “Black Day” would send a positive message to the Kashmiri people.
