ISLAMABAD:
The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Monday announced a joint plan to file a no-confidence motion against the current 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, endorsed by President Asif Ali Zardari and supported 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 “utter failure” to deliver governance and stability.
Addressing a joint press conference in Islamabad, PPP leader Qamar Zaman Kaira, accompanied by Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, said, “It has been decided that the current AJK government, of which we both were a part, has become a basis for creating a crisis instead of resolving the problems.”
He said crises of this magnitude had twice forced the federal government to intervene. “There is now a consensus that a no-confidence motion will be filed against this project, on which the PPP and PML-N will be together,” Kaira said.
The PPP leader noted that although the PML-N had earlier announced its decision to sit in opposition – a move the PPP may not have initially wanted – his party had accepted it for the sake of political stability.
He said both parties were seeking “better governance, political stability, resolution of issues and free and fair elections” to ensure that “the region’s true representatives can be elected and form their government.”
“The moment of [no-confidence] this decision will be consulted with the Prime Minister,” he said.
Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the PML-N felt that the current setup in AJK had “completely failed” to fulfill its responsibilities.
He said a high-level joint committee had been sent to the region to negotiate a resolution, but “what has become clear from this whole situation is that the current setup has failed to meet the aspirations of the people and our commitment to the people of Kashmir for good governance and opportunities for prosperity.” For this, it is inevitable that the current configuration will be modified… by a motion of censure.”
He added that the AJK section of the PML-N had decided to play its democratic role from the opposition benches while continuing to represent the interests of the people.
Rana Sanaullah also criticized the existing government, saying it had “failed to live up to its responsibilities”, leading to a “political vacuum” which had led to further instability. “Whichever government is formed, it will solve the problems of the people and serve them, and then credible, fair and free elections will be held,” he said.
“Political theater”
Meanwhile, PTI general secretary Salman Akram Raja called the PPP-PML-N alliance “political theater”, saying the two parties “have no real plan” to form a real opposition.
Speaking to a private news channel, Raja said, “The PPP and PML-N are two sides of the same coin; they have an alliance and do not intend to form a real opposition. They are just taking their respective turns at the moment.”
Responding to the question whether the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) would side with the PTI, PPP or PML-N in the National Assembly, Raja said, “Given the past, I don’t think they will follow us in the end, and whether they will form an alliance with the PPP or PML-N, I can’t say anything about that.” But we (PTI) are not really interested in it.”
“Our position is that these assemblies are just a facade. People no longer trust them, so they can continue to do whatever they want, and whoever the next opponent is, it won’t make any difference,” he added.
The PPP now appears set to nominate its own candidate to head the regional government following the expected departure of outgoing AJK Prime Minister Anwarul Haq. The plan – which was reportedly finalized after President Zardari’s meeting with AJK lawmakers on Saturday – triggered the defection of ten PTI lawmakers to the PPP, giving the party an overwhelming majority.
If successful, AJK will have 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 take him into confidence about the PPP plan and strategy for the new government.
The PPP’s number increased to 27 after the addition of the ten deputies, thus ensuring it had the number needed to form a government.
The new entrants announced their decision a day after President Zardari met AJK legislators from the PPP and reaffirmed his commitment to “the policy of reconciliation and tolerance”.
The meeting reviewed governance challenges, the evolving political landscape and the party’s roadmap to ensure a smooth transition of power in the region.
