ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has formally announced its withdrawal from the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government, stating that it will now serve as part of the opposition.
During a press conference, PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir clarified that if the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) moves a no-confidence motion, it would be within its legal rights. However, he emphasized that the party would not participate in forming a new government through such a process.
“We will not endorse any forced or unnatural coalition,” Qadir declared, asserting that PML-N’s new role will be that of a constructive opposition. He also issued a warning that any party member who breaches the party’s official stance could face disciplinary measures. “Our focus remains on advocating for the welfare of refugees and overseas Kashmiris,” he added.
Qadir stressed that a stable and effective government in AJK can only be achieved through transparent and fair general elections. “We are prepared to lead a vigorous election campaign under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif,” he said. He further highlighted that the party intends to play a positive role in addressing AJK’s ongoing constitutional and political challenges.
Currently, the region’s administration is led by Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, a former PTI member, who took oath in April 2023 after Sardar Tanveer Ilyas was disqualified from holding office for two years due to contempt. Haq, who previously served as the assembly speaker since August 2021, was elected unopposed as the leader of the house after forming a 12-member ‘forward bloc’ within PTI and forming an alliance with opposition parties, including PPP and PML-N lawmakers.
The decision by PML-N comes in the wake of recent violent protests in AJK, which resulted in at least nine fatalities, including three police personnel, and injured over 100 individuals. The protests involved widespread shutdowns and a wheeljam strike, with clashes occurring between law enforcement and protestors in Muzaffarabad, the capital.
The protests were triggered by demands from the Awami Action Committee (AAC), which issued a 38-point charter calling for the abolition of 12 reserved seats for refugees and the removal of privileges enjoyed by the elite. However, an agreement was reached on October 3 between the AAC and the federal government to resolve the crisis.
