A no-confidence motion against Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq was tabled Monday in the AJK Assembly. The resolution, backed by 25 lawmakers, could pave the way for PPP nominee Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore to become the new prime minister. The motion reflects shifting alliances within the 52-member assembly.
The resolution was submitted to the assembly secretariat on Friday, signed by 23 PPP members and two from the PML-N. Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar chaired the session attended by the Leader of the Opposition, Khawaja Farooq Ahmad of PTI. PM Haq also arrived, greeted Rathore, delivered a speech, and left the assembly.
Read more: AJK PM Anwarul Haq faces crucial no-trust vote today
The PPP’s support has grown recently after two PTI lawmakers from the forward bloc joined the party, raising its tally to 29. Earlier in October, 10 PTI forward bloc lawmakers had switched to PPP, giving the party a clear majority in the 52-member assembly, where 27 votes are needed for a simple majority.
Under the AJK Constitution, a successful no-confidence vote automatically counts as a vote for the proposed successor. If passed, Rathore would become the fourth prime minister in the current assembly since 2021, signaling another leadership change with six months left in the term.
Read more: AJK assembly set to vote on PM Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq
AJK has seen rapid changes in leadership: Abdul Qayyum Niazi became PM in 2021, followed by Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, who was later disqualified. Haq replaced him in April 2023, making this the fourth transition in four years. The political landscape in AJK remains volatile as PPP consolidates its position.