Faisal Rathore replaces Anwarul Haq as AJK PM after no no-confidence motion

Mirpur: A vote of no confidence against the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, has succeeded in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, resulting in Faisal Mumtaz Rathore being elected as the new Prime Minister.

Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, the nominee for Prime Minister, secured 36 votes. The resolution received 36 votes in favour and 2 against, thereby confirming Rathore’s election as Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir.

Earlier, the no-confidence motion had been tabled in the House by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) member Qasim Majeed.

The motion had been submitted to the Assembly Secretariat on Friday afternoon, bearing the signatures of 25 members—23 from the PPP and 2 from the Pakistan Muslim League (N).

The session, chaired by Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar, was attended by members of the PPP, the PML-N, as well as the Leader of the Opposition, Khawaja Farooq Ahmed.

Shortly after the session commenced, Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq arrived in the House accompanied by four members and exchanged greetings with the PPP’s nominated candidate, Raja Faisal Mumtaz Rathore.

On Sunday, following a meeting with Faryal Talpur—sister of President Asif Ali Zardari—two ministers belonging to the PTI forward bloc, Dewan Ali Chughtai and Taqdees Kausar Gilani, joined the PPP, increasing the party’s total strength to 29.