Azad Kashmir political scene heats up as PPP gears up for power shift

ISLAMABAD: (Rizwan Abbasi) – The political landscape in Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) is rapidly shifting as the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) steps up efforts to change the government.

As per the sources, under the leadership of PPP Azad Kashmir President Chaudhry Yaseen, a major power show is being planned.

PPP insiders claim that the party has secured the support of over 27 members in the Azad Kashmir Assembly.

The PPP currently has 17 members of its own, while 11 members from three different political groups have also pledged their support. These include six members from the Barrister group, three from the Refugee seats, and four from the Forward Bloc.

Sources revealed that PPP’s central leader Faryal Talpur is scheduled to arrive in Islamabad on October 23. The party leadership aims to hold a collective meeting of the 27 supporting assembly members upon her arrival to publicly demonstrate their numerical majority.

It is further indicated that if the required numbers are achieved, the political scenario will become clear, and there is speculation that Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq might resign from his position as claimed earlier.

PPP’s Faryal Talpur is expected to brief Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto on the current political situation, the level of support, and whether the majority has been secured.

According to parliamentary tradition, if PPP attains a clear majority in the Azad Kashmir Assembly, Chaudhry Yaseen is likely to be nominated as the Leader of the House. It is important to note that in previous governments in Azad Kashmir, the position of Prime Minister has traditionally been held by the party president, a well-established political custom.