Major political shift as majority of Haq’s own cabinet joins move to oust him
MUZAFFARABAD: After weeks of speculation and political deadlock, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has officially nominated Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore as its candidate to replace Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq. The announcement ends prolonged uncertainty ahead of a no-confidence vote scheduled for Monday.
A no-trust resolution, signed by 25 lawmakers, 23 from the PPP and two senior leaders from the PML-N was submitted to the AJK Legislative Assembly shortly after the nomination.
PPP Finalizes Name After Weeks of Political Ambiguity
Under Article 18 of the AJK Constitution, movers of a no-confidence vote must propose a successor in their resolution. However, PPP leadership delayed naming a candidate due to political priorities linked to Islamabad, where the PML-N sought PPP support for the 27th Constitutional Amendment.
The announcement was made on Friday by PPP AJK President Chaudhry Mohammad Yasin after party leaders were instructed to gather in Muzaffarabad.
“Our chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has decided that Faisal Rathore will be nominated,” Yasin said outside Zardari House, flanked by Raja Pervez Ashraf and AJK Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar.
PPP leadership expects to form the next government “in the coming days.”
No-Confidence Resolution: Majority of Haq’s Own Cabinet Signs Motion
A surprising element of the motion was that 19 of its 25 signatories are members of PM Haq’s own cabinet, none of whom resigned after backing the move.
The resolution accuses Haq of:
- Losing the confidence of the assembly
- Damaging constitutional and democratic norms
- Pursuing a confrontational governance style
The document was initially submitted with the successor’s name left blank — Rathore’s name was handwritten into the final version before submission.
Who Is Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore? A Profile
Born in Rawalpindi in 1978, Rathore hails from a prominent political family. His father, Raja Mumtaz Hussain Rathore, was a former AJK prime minister and held multiple top political roles.
Key highlights of his political career:
- Entered politics in 2006
- First won a seat in 2011; later served as minister for electricity and logging
- Appointed Secretary General PPP AJK in 2017
- Arrested in 2016 in a politically motivated case, later cleared
- Re-elected in 2021, became a strong opposition voice
- Joined Haq’s coalition in 2023 as minister for Local Government & Rural Development
- Known for his conciliatory, soft-spoken leadership style
- Hosted a political programme on a national TV channel
Rathore’s nomination is seen as a strategic attempt to stabilize AJK politics and build consensus across party lines.
Legislative Assembly to Meet Monday
Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar has summoned the assembly for Monday, where the vote of no confidence will determine whether PPP forms the next government.
If the motion succeeds, Rathore will be sworn in as the new Leader of the House, reshaping AJK’s political landscape ahead of general elections scheduled for July 2026.