AJK Assembly removes PM Anwarul Haq as no-confidence motion passes

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The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly has successfully passed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, replacing him with Raja Faisal Rathore.

The no-confidence motion was supported by 36 legislators, including the PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz. Two members opposed the motion.

PPP’s candidate for the premier’s slot, Rathore polled 36 votes, with two against.

Overall, Rathore is the 16th AJ Prime Minister and the fourth of the current assembly. Those who have served in high office during the current assembly include, apart from Haqi, Abdul Qeem Khan and Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan.

Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar presided over Monday’s session, which was attended by lawmakers from the PPP, Muslim League (N), and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Ansaf, including opposition leader Khawaja Farooq Ahmed.

Tight security measures were taken in the Assembly Secretariat, Ministers’ Block, and the Prime Minister’s Secretariat.

‘Joint Awami Action Committee is a reality’

Addressing the Legislative Assembly after being elected, Rathore said the Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee was “a reality” and had to be recognized, and promised to address public grievances within the limits of available resources.

The AJK PM-elect said that people often assume that politicians belong to a privileged class, “but we are not such politicians.”

He revealed that his father had built a house, which he later sold to meet his election expenses. “Whatever assets I have even today, you can review them even after my tenure as Prime Minister,” he added.

He admitted that some cases could have been resolved earlier, but they were delayed. “As Prime Minister, I pledge that there will be no delay from my pen,” he said.

Rathore said that Allah Almighty placed a heavy responsibility on the shoulders of a political activist. “This responsibility is not only on me, but on all the people who voted for me,” he noted.

He recalled that former ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto entrusted their father with this office, while today, Balwal Bhutto Zardari trusted him.

He also remarked: “For the first time, the outgoing Prime Minister welcomed the outgoing Prime Minister,” calling it a positive political gesture.

‘One individual could not be held responsible for the disaster’

Earlier, speaking on the floor of the Assembly, former PM Haq said that no individual could be held solely responsible for the “destruction of the constitution and administrative system”, adding that his cabinet members also shared responsibility for the outcome of governance.

Haq said he was keeping his remarks on record, thanking the assembly for “giving him political life.”

He said no formula for the partition of Kashmir could succeed under his leadership and described signing off on the abolition of reserved seats for refugees as “political death”.

He said, the political system can survive only if the borders of this region are secure. “Without Pakistan’s armed forces, nothing will remain.”

On recent political developments, Haq said he would have supported Rathore for the post of prime minister if elections were held.

“I was once asked to dissolve the assembly by February 15 this year, but I refused to do so,” he added.

The PPP moved to consolidate its government in the autonomous region shortly after President Asif Ali Zardari unveiled a political strategy last month.

The party strengthened its strength in the Legislative Assembly when 10 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Ansif lawmakers joined the PPP during a meeting with President Zardari’s sister, Faryal Talpur, at Zardari House in Islamabad on October 26.

Among those who joined the PPP were Muhammad Hussain, Chaudhry Yasir, Chaudhry Muhammad Akhlaq, Chaudhry Irshad, Chaudhry Muhammad Rasheed, Zafar Mushidi Malik, Faheem Akhar Rabbani, Abdul Jad Khan, Mohammadi Akhram, among others.

Later, the Muslim League (N) also extended its support to the no-confidence motion, but decided against joining the fold of the government.