Web Desk
Today, lawmakers in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) will elect a new prime minister amid political factions within the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The election follows the disqualification of former Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas by the AJK High Court in a contempt case.
Although the PTI has a majority in the AJK Legislative Assembly, it may face difficulties securing a candidate loyal to Prime Minister Imran Khan. AJK President Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry has formed a forward bloc in the assembly, rebelling against his own party. Sources suggest that Chaudhry’s forward bloc has the support of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
The PML-N AJK President, Shah Ghulam Qadir, has explained that according to their “power-sharing formula,” the alliance is with the PPP, but if the candidate for prime minister was from PPP, then they would be bound to vote for him. Sources have shared that after Qadir’s reaction, AJK President Chaudhry has reached out to the PML-N for support for the forward bloc candidate.
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Previously, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas was the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and was disqualified by the AJK High Court for contempt of court. He was summoned by the Supreme Court and High Court for using threatening language in one of his speeches.
The court declared him ineligible to hold any public office and ordered the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of AJK, Abdul Rasheed Sulehria, to hold fresh elections for a new prime minister.
This decision was a major setback for the ruling party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) as they now have to secure a candidate loyal to Imran Khan as the new premier amidst groupings within the party.
