ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday announced a joint plan to move a no-confidence motion against the incumbent AJK government, days after ten lawmakers defected from the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to join the PPP, giving it a clear parliamentary advantage.
The move, approved by President Asif Ali Zardari and backed by the PML-N leadership, comes amid growing divisions within the AJK coalition and growing criticism of what both parties describe as the government’s “complete failure” to deliver on governance and stability.
At a joint press conference in Islamabad, PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira, flanked by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, said: “It has been decided that the current AJK government, of which both parties are a part, has become a base for creating a crisis instead of solving problems.”
He said crises of such magnitude had twice forced the federal government to intervene. “There is now consensus that a no-confidence motion will be tabled against the PPP and the PML-N,” Kaira said.
The PPP leader noted that while the PML-N had earlier announced its decision to join the opposition (a move the PPP may not have initially wanted), his party had accepted it in the interest of political stability.
He said both parties were seeking “better governance, political stability, problem-solving and free and fair elections” to ensure that “the true representatives of the region could be elected and form their government.”
“The moment of [no-confidence] This measure will be consulted with the Prime Minister,” he stated.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the PML-N believed the current AJK setup had been “completely unsuccessful” in fulfilling its responsibilities.
He said a high-level joint committee had been sent to the region to negotiate a resolution, but “what clearly came to light in that whole situation was that the current setup has failed to live up to the aspirations of the people and our commitment to the people of Kashmir for good governance and opportunities for prosperity. So it is inevitable that the current setup will be changed… through a no-confidence motion.”
He added that the AJK section of the PML-N decided to play its democratic role from the opposition seats and continue to represent the interests of the people.
Rana Sanaullah also criticized the incumbent government, saying it had “failed to live up to its responsibilities”, resulting in a “political vacuum” leading to further instability. “Any government that is formed will solve the people’s problems and serve them, and then credible, fair and free elections will be held,” he said.
‘Political theater’
Meanwhile, PTI general secretary Salman Akram Raja dismissed the PPP-PML-N alliance as “political theatre”, stating that the two parties had “no real plan” to form a genuine opposition.
Speaking to a private news channel, Raja said: “PPP and PML-N are two sides of the same coin; they have an alliance and have no intention of forming a real opposition. They are simply each taking their respective turns at the moment.”
Responding to questions on whether Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) would side with the PTI, PPP or PML-N in the National Assembly, Raja said: “Considering the past, I don’t think they will stand with us in the end, and if they form an alliance with PPP or PML-N, I can’t say anything about it. But we (PTI) really don’t have any interest in it.”
“Our position is that these assemblies are just a façade. People no longer trust them, so they can continue doing whatever they want, and whoever becomes the next opposition makes no difference,” he added.
The PPP now appears set to install its own candidate to lead the regional government following the expected departure of current AJK Prime Minister Anwarul Haq. The plan, reportedly finalized after President Zardari’s meeting with AJK lawmakers on Saturday, led to the defection of ten PTI lawmakers to the PPP, giving the party a commanding majority.
If successful, AJK will witness its fourth prime minister in four and a half years.
After his meeting with AJK legislators, President Zardari also spoke to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reassure him about the PPP’s plan and strategy for the new government.
The PPP’s number increased to 27 after the ten legislators joined, ensuring the number needed to form a government.
The new members announced their decision a day after President Zardari met PPP AJK lawmakers and reaffirmed their commitment to “the policy of reconciliation and tolerance.”
The meeting reviewed governance challenges, the evolving political landscape and the party’s roadmap to ensure smooth transition of power in the region.
