MUZAFFARABAD — In a significant political development, the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Monday voted out Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar ul Haq through a successful no-confidence motion. Faisal Mumtaz Rathore has been elected the new Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir, securing a clear majority in the House. His oath-taking ceremony is expected to take place tomorrow.
According to the News, Rathore received 36 votes — the same number cast in favour of the no-confidence resolution — while only two members voted against it. With this tally, he comfortably secured his election as the next prime minister.
Sources say that due to health issues, President Barrister Sultan Mahmood will not administer the oath. Instead, Speaker of the AJK Assembly Chaudhry Latif Akbar will preside over the swearing-in ceremony.
Earlier in the session, PPP lawmaker Qasim Majeed moved the no-confidence motion, which had been submitted to the Assembly Secretariat on Friday with signatures of 25 members — 23 from the Pakistan Peoples Party and two from the PML-N.
Monday’s session, chaired by Speaker Akbar, was attended by members of PPP, PML-N, and Leader of the Opposition Khawaja Farooq Ahmed. Prime Minister Anwarul Haq entered the House accompanied by four lawmakers and exchanged greetings with PPP’s nominee, Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore.
Political shifts in recent weeks contributed to PPP’s strengthened position. On Sunday, two ministers from the PTI forward block — Dewan Ali Chughtai and Taqdees Kausar Gilani — joined PPP after meeting Faryal Talpur, sister of President Asif Ali Zardari. Their addition increased PPP’s strength to 29 members. Earlier in October, 10 more PTI forward bloc members had joined PPP, raising its count to 27.
With 27 seats required for a simple majority, the PPP now holds a decisive advantage in the House.
Under the AJK Constitution, any vote cast in favour of a no-confidence motion is automatically counted in favour of the candidate nominated as the alternative prime minister within the same resolution. This meant that Rathore’s success in the motion directly translated into his uncontested election.
This marks the fourth change of premiership during the current assembly’s tenure. Since 2021, the AJK Assembly has seen three different prime ministers: Abdul Qayyum Niazi, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, and most recently Anwarul Haq. Rathore will now assume office for the remaining six months of the assembly term.
