PPP ‘secures’ majority to form AJK govt as PTI forward bloc members join ranks

#PPP #secures #majority #form #AJK #govt #PTI #bloc #members #join #ranks

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) gained fresh momentum in its bid to form the government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) as several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) forward bloc lawmakers pledged their support on Sunday.

The development came ahead of a meeting between the PPP and Muslim League (N) top leadership scheduled for Monday, in which they are expected to finalize decisions on the formation of the AJK government.

The PPP’s strength in the AJ Legislative Assembly went from 17 to 27 when 10 PTI legislators joined its ranks.

Within a day of President Asif Ali Zardari announcing a possible political move, Balwal Bhutto’s party, a key ally of the Muslim League-N, secured the required numbers to form its own government in the autonomous region.

PTI lawmakers announced the decision to join the PPP at a meeting at Zardari House in Islamabad, along with Farrell Talpur, president of the PPP Women’s Wing and President Zardari’s sister – and senior leader Chaudhry Riaz.

Among those who joined the PPP were Muhammad Hussain, Chaudhry Yasir, Chaudhry Muhammad Akhlaq, Chaudhry Irshad, Chaudhry Muhammad Rasheed, AJK Higher Education Minister Zafar Iqbal Malik, Faheem Akhrabani, Abdul Jad Khan, Abdul Aqambani, Abdul Abbani,

PPP leaders welcomed the new members, promising to continue their struggle for the political and economic rights of the people of AJK.

Sources close to PPP told Geo News that the Balwal Bhutto-led party is confident of forming its government in AJK without PMLN’s support.

According to party insiders, the five new entrants belong to the Barrister Sultan Group, three have bagged refugee seats, while the affiliation of two others has been kept secret.

Talpur hosted a dinner in Sindh House for Forward Bloc members and other AJK legislators in Islamabad.

The leaders, who arrived at Sindh House, include Yasir Sultan, Irshad, Hussain, Akhlaq, Majeed, Akbar, Rabbani, Asim, and Malik Zafar. Members of PPPAJ under the leadership of Chaudhry Yasin also reached the house of Sindh.

Other senior figures, including Sardar Yaqub, Tanveer Ilyas, Latif Akbar, Mian Waid, Rathore, Sardar Javed Ayub, Ziaul Qamar, and Javed Iqbal Badhanu, were also present.

The PML-N’s AJ leadership has already announced that its legislators will not support any party in forming the new government and intend to sit on the opposition benches.

For the uninitiated, the Legislative Assembly of the AJ has 53 members, and a simple majority of 27 votes is needed to table and if the incumbent premier refuses to step down.

Currently, PPP has 17 seats, Muslim League-N nine, and PTI five. Muslim Conference and Jammu Kashmir People’s Party have one member each. There is also a twenty-member forward block within the assembly.

Earlier today, it was learned that AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq had started consultations and is expected to make a major decision within 48 hours during the expected reshuffle in the house which could be through resignation or a motion of confidence.

It was also revealed that Balwal will formally announce the government formation plan tomorrow (Monday) and is expected to unveil the party’s nominee for the premiership of AJ.

Sources also revealed that the party is considering Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin and Chaudhry Latif Akbar as names for the premiership of AJ.

‘Required more than 27 saved’

Speaking to Geo News, PPPAJ Secretary General Faisal Imtaz Rathore has claimed that his party has secured more than the required 27 votes to move the no-confidence motion.

He further said that a meeting is scheduled with the Muslim League (N) committee tomorrow to discuss the issues related to the political situation.

Rathore clarified that the PPPAJ will not form a large cabinet in the Legislative Assembly. “We are not coming to power just for the sake of authority; we are here to solve the prevailing crisis,” he said.

He said that the government led by AJK Prime Minister Anwar was formed with good intentions, but it was a mistake to allow all parties to be involved in the governance of the region. Rathore further said that the PPP leadership has not yet announced any name for the office of Prime Minister.

AJK needs tough opposition: Ex-PM

Talking about Geo News’ program “Niya Pakistan”, former AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider said that while PPP may be able to secure the number and form the government, the Muslim Diman Parliamentary Party has already decided not to vote for anyone and will sit directly in opposition.

Haider said AJK needs a strong opposition and noted that not just 27 but 30 to 32 votes are needed to form the government.

“If the PPP manages to complete its numbers, it will form the government. But if we vote for a PPP member, how will we justify it to the people tomorrow?” He remarked.

He added that Anwar is the sitting prime minister and still has the power to dissolve the assembly. “It would have been a better decision if Anwarul Haq had dissolved the assembly and called for early elections,” Hyder concluded.

Speaking separately, PPP leader and former AJ Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas said his party’s aim was to preserve democracy and political stability in the region.

He claimed that PPP’s AJ has 17 members in the assembly and justified the decision of Muslim League (N) to sit in opposition.

He said that six to seven constitutional posts in AJK are currently vacant and added that there are no internal differences within the PPP. “Whatever the party leadership takes will be acceptable to all,” Ilyas said.