PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira on Monday announced that his party and the PML-N had reached an agreement to move a no-confidence motion against the Azad Jammu and Kashmir government.
Political uncertainty in AJK deepens with each passing day. On October 10, the two main coalition partners in the government led by Chaudhry Anwarul Haq urged their leaders to allow them to withdraw from the coalition, before the next elections.
As of October 10, in the 53-member AJK Legislative Assembly, the PPP had increased its strength to 17 and the PML-N to nine, while the PTI’s advance bloc had 20. The PTI, which held the position of opposition leader, was left with only five legislators. On Sunday, 10 lawmakers, all elected on PTI tickets in the July 2021 general elections, announced that they would join the PPP, which has been eyeing the prime ministership in the region.
In a press conference with Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Kaira said: “It has been decided that the current AJK government, of which both parties are a part, has become a basis for creating a crisis instead of solving problems.”
He said that on two occasions crises of such a nature had occurred that they had forced the federal government to go and resolve them. “There is now consensus that a no-confidence motion will be tabled against him, in which the PPP and the PML-N will be together,” Kaira added.
The PPP leader further said that the PML-N had previously announced that it would sit in opposition and while this may not have been the desired wish of the PPP, it still accepted the decision and agreed with it.
He said there was a need to offer the people of AJK better governance, political stability, problem-solving and free and fair elections so that the true representatives of the region could be elected and form their government.
“The moment of [no-confidence] The measure will be consulted with the prime minister.”
The Planning Minister said that the PML-N considered that the current AJK organization had been “completely unsuccessful” in fulfilling its responsibilities and this was the reason why the two parties had to form a high-level committee which went to the region and entered into negotiations to resolve the crisis situation.
“What clearly came to light in that whole situation was that the current setup has failed to live up to the aspirations of the people and our commitment to the people of Kashmir for good governance and opportunities for prosperity, so it is inevitable that the current setup will be changed… through a no-confidence motion.”
He said the AJK chapter of the PML-N had decided that it would be part of the next government but would play its democratic role and represent the opposition people.
More to follow.
