President Zardari takes PM Shehbaz into ‘confidence’ over AJK political situation

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President Asif Ali Zardari held a telephone conversation with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday to discuss the evolving political situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), sources told Geo News.

According to sources, President Zardari briefed the Prime Minister on the plans and strategy of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to form a new government in the region.

After the call, the prime minister tasked the PML-N committee on AJ’s affairs, chaired by Sohan Iqbal and including Rana Sanaullah and Aamir Muqeem-to hold talks with the PPP. Sources further said that the committee has started consultation with AJ chapter of PML-N.

Also, Muslim League (N) parliamentary leader and former AJK prime minister Raja Farooq Haider reiterated his party’s stand that he would sit in opposition and not be part of any government formation in AJK.

He told the party’s parliamentary meeting that the decision to remain in the opposition stands and there is no room for change.

In Islamabad, PPP leaders held separate meetings presided over by President Zardari and chaired by PPP Chairman Balwal Bhutto-Asdardari as the party moved to finalize its process, sources said on Saturday.

The meeting held at the President’s House – attended by Balwal, Faryal Talpur, Raja Pervez Ashraf and Qamar Zaman Kaira – approved moving a no-confidence motion against the incumbent AJK premier, sources said. The President is expected to finalize the party’s nominee for AJ’s premiership after further consultation.

Party sources confirmed that Balwal will formally announce the government formation plan on Monday. PPP insiders said the party was considering Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin and Chaudhry Latif Akbar as names for the premiership of AJ. Chaudhry Yasin told reporters that the party had taken a “final decision” to form the government and that the leadership would decide on the nominee.

The Legislative Assembly of AJ has 52 members and a simple majority of 27 votes is required. Currently, the PPP has 17 seats, the Muslim League nine, and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Ansaf four. The Muslim Conference and the Jammu Kashmir People’s Party have one member each.

There is also a twenty-member forward block within the assembly. To reach the 27-member threshold, the PPP needs additional backing. With the support of Muslim League (N), it will increase its total to 26 seats. Since PML-N AJK president Shah Ghulam Qadir has announced that his party will sit in opposition, the PPP has intensified contacts with forward bloc members to secure the numbers required to form the government.

Sources said AJ’s premier, Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, has started consultations amid an expected reshuffle in the house that could be through resignation or a confidence motion.

According to sources, the premier is likely to take an important decision within 48 hours. PPP leaders said they had secured the quorum needed for tabling and had passed a no-confidence motion if he was denied office, though the party has yet to publicly demonstrate the required assembly strength.

Kira, speaking outside Zardari House, described AJK’s situation as “concerning for all parties” and said the party would consult the president further before making formal public announcements.

He added that while it is being talked about that the Muslim League (N) has decided to sit in opposition, the PPP has not received an official intimation in this regard at that time.

Given the ongoing talks and a very confident approach with the PPP leadership, party sources said significant political developments are expected in the coming days. Balwal is scheduled to make an official announcement on Monday on the party’s plans and the name of its chosen candidate.