AJK inhouse change stalls amid PPP delay, PML-N election push…The planned in house change in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has been postponed as the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leadership has yet to nominate a new candidate for the Leader of the House, causing delays in submitting the no confidence motion, political insiders revealed on Monday.
Despite holding a claimed majority in the AJK Assembly, the PPP has struggled to take decisive action for nearly two weeks. Party sources say that a final decision will be made once PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari returns to Pakistan.
The delay is reportedly tied to the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) demand for early elections. The current AJK Assembly’s term ends in July, but the PML-N wants polls held in March a move that would restrict the PPP’s ability to gain political ground through in-house changes.
Under the rules, all development projects and appointments are suspended two months before the elections. If polls are held in March, a new government formed by January would lose its powers just weeks later. PPP leaders argue that completing the full term is crucial for political and administrative continuity.
Meanwhile, around 80% of AJK’s development budget remains unused, and approximately 2,000 vacant posts, along with programs like health cards, could serve as valuable political incentives for the next government.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has repeatedly claimed that the PPP is in a strong position to form the next government in AJK, especially after gaining support from ten members of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s (PTI) forward bloc on October 26.
Following this development, the PPP and PML-N agreed to submit a joint no-confidence motion against the sitting prime minister. However, the PTI later withdrew its backing, calling the move a “political stunt” meant to weaken public representation.
PPP leaders, including Asif Ali Zardari, have reaffirmed their intent to form the next government in AJK, but until the nomination issue is resolved, the in-house change remains on hold.
