AJK Minister Diwan Ali Khan Chughtai likely to join PML-N

MUZAFFARABAD: The PPP government in Azad Kashmir has suffered a major setback, and cracks have started appearing in the cabinet, with government minister Diwan Ali Khan Chughtai likely to join the PML-N.

According to details, there was a stir in the politics of Azad Kashmir when important meetings of Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore’s cabinet member and Education Minister Diwan Ali Khan Chughtai with central leaders of the PML-N were revealed.

Reports said that there is a strong possibility of Diwan Ali Khan Chughtai joining the PML-N, which could deal a major political blow to the PPP government.

Diwan Ali Khan Chughtai held separate meetings with federal ministers Rana Sanaullah and Amir Muqam in Islamabad yesterday. PML-N Azad Kashmir President Shah Ghulam Qadir, Tariq Farooq, and Najib Naqi were also present in these meetings.

After these contacts, Diwan Chughtai has decided in principle to resign from the ministry after receiving the green signal from the PML-N.

On the other hand, these meetings and political manipulations have also created a crisis within the Muslim League (N) of Azad Kashmir. Former Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Khan has expressed strong displeasure over these meetings.

He has expressed strong reservations before the party leadership over this major political development in his district without consultation. Last night, the central and provincial leaders of the PML-N tried to convince Raja Farooq Haider; however, according to media reports, these efforts have so far failed. Other league leaders, including Shah Ghulam Qadir and Tariq Farooq, are still busy convincing him.