MUZAFFARABAD — The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly meets today to elect a new leader of the house, a move necessitated by the disqualification of former Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq.
The political scramble hit top gear yesterday as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) fielded Chaudhary Tariq Farooq as its candidate. His nomination papers were submitted late Tuesday, signaling the party’s intent to reclaim the regional government.
The numbers game remains the defining feature of today’s session. With the assembly currently fractured, the support of independent members and smaller coalition partners will decide the outcome. PML-N leaders spent the last 24 hours in frantic lobbying, attempting to consolidate a majority that has remained elusive since the last general elections.
The opposition, led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-backed independents, holds a significant bloc of votes. Their strategy for today’s floor test—and whether they will put forward a consensus candidate—remains the primary point of tension in the capital.
Security in Muzaffarabad has been tightened. Police have cordoned off the assembly building, and the administration has imposed Section 144 to prevent large gatherings, fearing potential clashes between rival party workers as the vote draws near.
The vacancy follows a period of intense legal and constitutional maneuvering that left the region without a permanent executive. The incoming prime minister faces an immediate agenda: managing a strained provincial budget and addressing mounting public grievances regarding electricity tariffs and local infrastructure.
The session is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM. By sunset, the region will either have a stable new government or face a deeper constitutional stalemate.
