ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has nominated Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin as its candidate for the office of Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), signalling a likely change in the region’s political leadership.
According to party sources, the decision was formally approved by the PPP’s central leadership during a meeting chaired by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and attended by senior figures from the party’s AJK chapter.
Four names were reportedly under consideration for the position — Chaudhry Yasin, Chaudhry Latif Akbar, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, and Sardar Yaqub Khan. After consultations with regional leaders and party members, Bilawal Bhutto finalised Yasin’s name, which officials said reflected consensus within the party’s ranks.
An official announcement is expected later tonight, sources said, as political developments gather pace in Muzaffarabad. A motion of no confidence against the incumbent government is likely to be tabled in the AJK Legislative Assembly within the next 24 hours, marking the start of a potential transition of power.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has decided to initiate legal action against its members who have defected or signalled support for the no-confidence motion.
PTI AJK President Abdul Qayyum Niazi held consultations with Opposition Leader Khawaja Farooq Ahmed and convened a meeting of the party’s legal team to prepare disqualification references.
According to officials, the references will be filed under Section 30 of the Elections Act 2020, which allows the removal of lawmakers who cross the floor or switch parties.
The PTI had earlier submitted a reference to the assembly speaker against four members — Akmal Sargala, Rafiq Nayyar, and Ali Shan Soni among them — for alleged defection.
Party sources said that up to 12 members of the PTI forward bloc, now aligned with the PPP, could face disqualification if they vote in favour of the no-confidence motion.
Analysts say the latest developments mark an important political turning point in AJK’s coalition landscape, with the PPP seeking to consolidate power while the PTI fights to retain its legislative strength.
