The swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, will be held today at the President’s Office, Muzaffarabad.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Faryal Talpur has reached Muzaffarabad to participate in the oath-taking ceremony. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is also likely to attend.
The no-confidence motion against Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq was successful yesterday.
PPP candidate Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, who was a member of his own cabinet, received 36 votes for the prime ministership, with only 2 votes against. The PPP had claimed the support of 38 members for the no-confidence motion.
In his last address to the House, Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir Chaudhry Anwarul Haq said that how is it possible that one person is responsible for the destruction of the constitution and administrative structure. He also mentioned that “this political system will survive only when our borders are secure, adding that if Pakistan’s armed forces are not present, nothing will remain.”
In his address to the House, the new Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, Faisal Rathore, described the Action Committee as a reality and said that some of its issues are genuine and some are wishes.
Also Read, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, elected PM of AJK, after No-Confidence Motion against Anwar ul Haq
Lawmakers in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Monday elected Faisal Mumtaz Rathore as the region’s new prime minister. The vote followed a no-confidence motion against outgoing leader Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq that passed with a commanding majority.
Assembly officials said Rathore won 36 votes in the 53-member house, while only two lawmakers opposed him. The vote swiftly followed the successful ouster of Anwar-ul-Haq, whose support collapsed after weeks of political maneuvering.
Faisal Mumtaz Rathore’s Victory Speech
Faisal Mumtaz Rathore vowed to bring major reforms to Azad Kashmir, announcing that no government vehicle will be allocated to officials below grade 18. He emphasized transparency and accountability in governance, signaling a new direction for the administration.
Rathore expressed gratitude to senior political figures, including Asif Ali Zardari, Shehbaz Sharif, and Bilawal Bhutto, while acknowledging the heavy responsibility on his shoulders. He admitted that some past decisions were mistakes but stressed his commitment to corrective measures.
He promised to introduce “Khuli Kacheri” sessions to hear citizens’ complaints directly. New PM AJK also confirmed that the long-discussed action committee has become a reality. Rathore highlighted personal sacrifices, revealing that he sold his father’s house to contest elections. He further announced that future elections will be fought on official party tickets.
