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This undated photo shows Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq. — Facebook/@AuHajk
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Amid increasing efforts to bring about a change in the leadership of the region, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Chaudhry Anurul Hari is expected to step down, Geo News quoted sources as saying.
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has claimed a majority in the AJ Legislative Assembly after several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MLAs joined its ranks, achieving the required number of votes.
The PPP’s strength in the AJ Legislative Assembly went from 17 to 27 after 10 PTI legislators joined its ranks a day ago.
The Balwal Bhutto-led party, a key ally of the Muslim League-N (PML-N) at the centre, secured the required numbers to form its own government in the region without the support of the Nawaz Sharif-led party.
Sources added that Anwar, along with his colleagues, is likely to sit on the opposition benches after his resignation.
He said that AJ’s premier has completed consultations on his resignation, indicating that political recognition in the region is entering its final phase.
‘Performing duties will continue’
Prime Minister Anwar said during an informal chat with reporters that if someone has the required number, they should bring a no-confidence motion.
He said that he will continue to perform his duties as long as he is empowered. “I will hold a press conference soon where I will talk in detail,” he added.
The prime minister remarked that the no-confidence motion is the beauty of democracy, adding that people will realize its virtue only after it is gone.
“I can’t set fire to the house I was born in,” he said.
Sources revealed that cabinet members who were part of Prime Minister Anwar’s government have also decided to vote for the PPP’s new leader of the House.
Meanwhile, the PPP’s ruling coalition partner at the Center, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), has decided to sit in the opposition.
Under the AJK constitution, if the prime minister resigns, a new leader of the house must be elected within 14 days. In this case, the President of the AJ will convene a session of the Legislative Assembly to hold elections.
Sources said the assembly, in its current term, will elect its fourth prime minister. The incumbent premier has the power to send his resignation to the AJK president, who will then call for a meeting to elect a new leader.
If the Assembly is already in session, the election will be held immediately. Otherwise, the President is constitutionally bound to call the assembly within 14 days for fresh elections.
A no-confidence motion against the Prime Minister can be moved with the signatures of at least 25% of the members of the Assembly. The movers of the motion are also required to suggest the name of the next premier.
Any MLA can submit a notice to the Assembly Secretary to move such a resolution. The Secretary will distribute a copy of the notice to the Assembly President and the members concerned.
If the motion fails, no new confidence motion can be brought for the next six months.
The territory’s constitution also empowers the prime minister to dissolve the assembly at any time, provided no confidence motion is moved against it.
The President, acting on the advice of the Prime Minister, will issue an order of dissolution. If the President does not act within 48 hours, the Assembly is automatically dissolved.
After the dissolution, a general election must be held within 90 days.
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.
