President Asif Ali Zardari called Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the political developments in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). According to the private media channel on Sunday, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) advances plans to set up a new government in the territory.
President Zardari briefed PM Shehbaz about the party’s plan and approach for government formation in AJK.
After the call, PM Shehbaz directed the PML-N committee on AJK affairs- headed by Ahsan Iqbal and comprising Rana Sanaullah and Amir Muqam to initiating dialogue with the Pakistan Peoples Party. The PML-N committee has started discussions with the party’s AJK chapter.
PML-N parliamentary leader and former AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider reaffirmed the party’s position that it will sit in opposition and will abstain from joining the government.
He confirmed in the party’s parliamentary meeting that the move to remain in opposition remains unchanged and there is no scope for alteration.
PPP leaders gathered for separate meetings headed by President Zardari and by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari as the party sought to conclude its future plan.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Faryal Talpur, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, and Qamar Zaman Kaira participated in the session at the President’s House — approved moving a no-confidence motion against the sitting AJK prime minister. The president will finalise the party’s nominee for the AJK premiership after further discussions.
Party sources verified that Bilawal Bhutto Zardari would officially announce the government formation plan on Monday. PPP insiders stated the party is considering Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin and Chaudhry Latif Akbar among the names for the AJK prime ministership. PPP leader Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin said while speaking to the media that the party had taken a “final decision” to form the government and that leadership would determine the nominee.
