PML-N to back no-confidence motion but remain out of next AJK cabinet.

ISLAMABAD — The political future of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Anwarul Haq appears increasingly uncertain, as both the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) — key partners in the federal coalition — have decided to withdraw support from his government and push for a no-confidence motion in the assembly.

Senior party leaders from both sides met on Monday at the Presidency, where discussions centered on the formation of a new PPP-led government in AJK. The meeting, chaired by President Asif Ali Zardari, was attended by a PML-N delegation headed by Ahsan Iqbal and including Rana Sanaullah and Amir Muqam.

PML-N Withdraws Support, PPP Steps Forward

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Ahsan Iqbal confirmed that the PML-N would support the no-confidence motion but would not join the new government, choosing instead to sit in opposition.

“The PPP will lead the next government in AJK, and we will ensure a peaceful democratic transition,” Mr. Iqbal said.

PML-N leader Rana Sanaullah added that his party’s parliamentary wing had lost confidence in the current administration, blaming it for administrative failures and lack of governance. He assured that free and fair elections would take place after the assembly’s term concludes next year.

PPP Strengthens Position with Majority Support

PPP’s Qamar Zaman Kaira declared that the government had become “a problem itself instead of a problem solver,” emphasizing the need for political stability and transparent governance in the region.

He welcomed the PML-N’s decision to back the no-confidence move, saying it had solidified the PPP’s position to form a new government in AJK.

After ten new lawmakers joined the PPP on Sunday, the party now commands 27 seats in the 52-member AJK Legislative Assembly. With PML-N’s support, the PPP is expected to have the backing of at least 36 members — a clear majority over the incumbent premier.

Numbers Game and Next Steps

A simple majority in the AJK Assembly requires 27 votes. With PPP’s growing strength and additional pledges of support from Sardar Atig of the Muslim Conference and Sardar Hasan Ibrahim of the Jammu Kashmir Peoples Party, the balance has decisively tilted against Prime Minister Haq.

Sources revealed that the premier has been advised to opt for an “honourable exit” as his support base within the assembly continues to erode.

Mr. Haq reportedly faces three choices — to resign voluntarily, dissolve the assembly to block the PPP’s takeover, or face a no-confidence vote expected to take place imminently.

Insiders suggest he is likely to resign to avoid political humiliation and will sit on the opposition benches alongside his six remaining allies.

Political Climate in AJK

The unfolding political drama in Azad Jammu and Kashmir signals a power shift in regional politics, with the PPP poised to take control after years in opposition. Analysts believe the move could reshape Islamabad’s coordination with the AJK government, especially in administrative and developmental matters.

Both PPP and PML-N leaders have emphasized that their joint move is not about power politics, but about ensuring stability, governance, and accountability in the region.