Differences have emerged within the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) over the formation of a new government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), sources said on Thursday.
According to party sources, several members of the legislative assembly have expressed reservations over the nomination of Chaudhry Yasin for the post of AJK prime minister.
According to the sources, a strong group within the party is opposing Yasin’s candidacy, while lawmakers elected on seats reserved for refugees are reportedly backing Chaudhry Latif.
Following the emergence of these differences, the party leadership has delayed the formal announcement of its nominee for the top slot.
The PP leadership, the sources added, fears that announcing Yasin’s name could further deepen divisions within the party.
Some members have also objected that if Yasin becomes prime minister, both the AJK President, Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, and the prime minister would hail from Mirpur Division.
It may be recalled that in the past, two PPP prime ministers have also belonged to Mirpur Division.
Amid escalating internal differences, the PPP’s AJK parliamentary party has been summoned for another meeting.
Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is expected to take the parliamentary members into confidence soon over the issue, the sources said.
If the concerns of party members are not addressed, a review of the prime ministerial candidate’s nomination remains possible, the sources added.
Meanwhile, senior leader Sardar Latif Akbar is said to have strong backing from a major faction within the party, while some members have raised objections over Sardar Yaqoob Khan’s name due to his previous stints as both president and prime minister of AJK.
Separately, an important meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari is expected at the Prime Minister’s House later today.
According to the sources, Bilawal Bhutto will be accompanied by Raja Pervez Ashraf, Sherry Rehman, and Syed Nayyar Bukhari, while the government side will include Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah, and Amir Muqam.
The meeting will discuss the overall political situation in the country as well as the government formation in Azad Kashmir.
Bilawal is also expected to brief Prime Minister Shehbaz on the party’s proposed nominee for the AJK premiership and extend an invitation to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to join the cabinet in Azad Kashmir.
