A major political shift unfolded in Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Friday as PPP and PML-N lawmakers formally submitted a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Anwarul Haq.

With more members arriving to endorse the move, the opposition bloc has moved decisively to form a new government.

PPP members reached the Legislative Assembly Secretariat early to initiate the process, submitting the no-confidence motion to the special secretary due to the Assembly Secretary’s absence. A total of 17 members from the PPP and PML-N have signed the motion so far.

The signatories include major political figures such as PML-N President Shah Ghulam Qadir and former prime minister Raja Farooq Haider, underscoring the seriousness of the challenge to the current government.

PPP nominates Faisal Mumtaz for premier

Sources confirmed that Faisal Mumtaz Rathore has been nominated as the PPP’s candidate for the prime ministership under the no-confidence move. However, party insiders say the official nomination remains under a “secret section” until the process is formally completed.

PPP sources added that more lawmakers are on their way to sign the motion, strengthening the party’s position in the assembly.

Discussion among PPP and assembly members suggests that Prime Minister Anwarul Haq will not dissolve the assembly. According to Sardar Javed Ayub, the prime minister may also resign, depending on how the political situation evolves.

PPP leaders hold press conference outside Zardari House

Former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf addressed a press conference outside Zardari House in Islamabad, accompanied by senior PPP Azad Kashmir leaders, including Chaudhry Yasin and Latif Akbar. Ashraf reiterated the party’s confidence, stating that the PPP would submit a no-confidence motion in Azad Kashmir.

“The next prime minister of Azad Kashmir will be from the PPP. We will bring relief to the problems of our Kashmiri brothers and sisters," he remarked.

PPP leaders invoked historical party commitments to Kashmir. Chaudhry Yasin remarked that PPP founder and late prime minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto took a bold stance on Kashmir as the foreign minister, while slain former premier Benazir Bhutto gave special importance to the issue.

“Faisal Rathore will be the candidate for prime minister of Azad Kashmir. The PPP is the strongest party in both occupied and Azad Kashmir," he added.

The situation in Azad Kashmir is “very difficult,” and its short-lived governments “are not a bed of flowers," he remarked,

Numbers game: PPP confident of majority

PPP leaders emphasized their numerical strength:

The PPP currently has 27 members in the Legislative Assembly.
With the support of PML-N and allied factions, the tally is expected to reach 40, enough to comfortably form the next government.

“We have enough power; we do not need any other party," Pervaiz Ashraf added.

Who is Faisal Mumtaz Rathore?

A member of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly (MLA) and secretary general of PPP Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Ratore was born on April 11, 1978 in Rawalpindi.

Rathore is the most suitable candidate for the next prime minister of AJK because he:

Comes from a political family with deep roots in AJK politics, including roles held by his father as prime minister, speaker, opposition leader and senior minister.
Belongs to a household counted among the founders of the Pakistan Peoples Party in Azad Jammu & Kashmir, giving him strong institutional memory of the Kashmir cause and the Pakistan–AJK relationship.
Elected multiple times as a Member of the AJK Legislative Assembly, reflecting consistent public acceptance and electoral experience.
Has served in key executive roles, including Minister for Electricity and Minister for Local Government & Rural Development, providing hands-on experience in governance, service delivery and development.
Has also served a full phase on the opposition benches, which adds balance in understanding both policy-making and accountability.
Serving as Secretary General of PPP AJK since 2017, responsible for organisation, coordination and party strategy at the regional level.
Enjoys a high level of trust from central party leadership, including Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Faryal Talpur, and is seen as a representative of the party’s ideological and middle-class base.
Known for a conciliatory, soft-spoken and non-controversial style, which has helped him maintain credibility and acceptability across political, public and institutional circles.
Appointed as head of the government’s negotiating committee with the Awami Action Committee, indicating confidence in his negotiation and conflict management skills.
Overall, combines democratic family legacy, multi-term legislative work, excellent cabinet-level executive experience, par excellence in party organisational leadership, unmatched negotiation skills, extremely moderate temperament and media familiarity, forming a profile associated with mature, consensus-oriented political leadership.