- Anwaarul Haq calls allegations baseless and politically driven, insisting assembly never sidelined in cabinet decisions
- Claims 110% development funds utilised with ‘not a rupee lapsed,’ saying added Rs3b from personal savings to boost development pool
- Refutes charges on Kashmir Bank and Rs6b health card project, accusing ‘critics’ of spreading unverified data, ‘burning the forest’
MUZAFFARABAD: Prime Minister of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) Chaudhry Anwaarul Haq has dismissed the allegations levelled against him in the no-confidence motion as “baseless, frivolous and entirely without merit,” insisting that he has governed transparently, taken bold corrective actions, and upheld institutional integrity despite political headwinds.
In a wide-ranging interview with a private channel, the AJK premier said he would announce within the next 48 hours whether he would contest the no-confidence move or resign—a decision he vowed to take publicly and “in the people’s court.”
PM Anwaarul Haq said the allegations drafted by his opponents “do not even make sense to those who wrote them,” adding that assembly members had always been included in major cabinet decisions. He said his administration had sought to dismantle status quo practices and restore participatory governance. Despite having the constitutional authority to dissolve the assembly, he said he refrained from doing so “in the national interest.”
Highlighting his performance record, the prime minister said he worked 18 hours a day to correct the direction of governance, curb wastage worth billions of rupees, and straighten out malfunctioning institutions. He stated that despite limited resources, efforts were made to improve education and healthcare. “One hundred and ten percent of development funds were utilised till September 31, and not a single rupee lapsed,” he said, asserting that he had even added Rs3 billion from his “personal savings” to the government’s development fund.
Refuting claims regarding delays in Kashmir Bank scheduling, he said the entire process was governed by court directives and tendering procedures. He also maintained that rules, tendering, and committee scrutiny for the Rs6 billion health card project were “inevitable and unavoidable,” dismissing corruption allegations as politically motivated. “Only those who can prove accusations with evidence should speak,” he added.
Anwaarul Haq lamented that Pakistan’s political system was weakening, forcing security institutions to fill the gap by laying down their lives. Defending the recent constitutional amendment, he asked why objections were being raised if the amendment merely ensured institutional protection. “These objections are rooted in ignorance and emotion,” he said.
Discussing his political philosophy, the AJK premier said he had followed an ideological path since 1995, preferred simplicity over pomp, used his personal car and house, and avoided heavy security protocols. Despite differences, he said he did not consider any rival a personal enemy. “My love is not for individuals but for the state,” he remarked. He criticised critics for spreading unverified data, saying “false news is like a match in a monkey’s hand — it burns the entire forest.”
Speaking about Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, he described the young leader as talented and eloquent, and extended his best wishes to him.
Separately, Dr Sardar Muhammad Kamal Khan said the emergence of young leadership in AJK politics had created new hope for change, adding that previous governments had neglected grassroots issues. He expressed confidence that youth leaders would carry the political burden “without any baggage.”
Meanwhile, personalities from various fields in AJK welcomed the decision to nominate Faisal Mumtaz Rathore as the next prime minister. Former Chamber of Commerce president Faisal Manzur said Rathore would employ his political insight for the state’s betterment and prioritise resolving public issues.
