Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore was sworn in as the 16th prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. He took the oath a day after lawmakers removed Chaudhry Anwarul Haq through a no-confidence vote. The ceremony was held at the President’s House in Muzaffarabad.
AJK Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar administered the oath because President Sultan Mahmood could not attend. Rathore thanked God for the responsibility and said the task ahead would be difficult. However, he said he believed he would receive strength to meet these challenges.
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Rathore praised PPP leaders Asif Ali Zardari and Faryal Talpur for supporting his election. He described AJK as the basecamp of the Kashmir freedom movement and vowed to advance that mission. He also stressed the region’s development and honoured martyrs and soldiers at the Line of Control.
He recalled his father’s political legacy under Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto and noted that the party again placed trust in his family. Moreover, he promised to maintain that long relationship and serve the people with commitment. He also announced new administrative steps, including downsizing and a transport policy.
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Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Rathore and pledged full federal support for AJK’s progress. He said the Centre would work with the new government to improve welfare, development, and security. Rathore became AJK’s fourth premier in four years after securing support from PPP and PML-N lawmakers.