Copyright dailytimes
A group of ministers from AJK called on PPP leader Faryal Talpur, who is also the in-charge of political affairs in the region, at the Zardari House in Islamabad on Sunday. During the meeting, Ch Yasir Sultan, Sardar Muhammad Hussain, Ch Muhammad Ikhlaq, Ch Arshad Hussain and Ch Muhammad Rasheed announced their decision to join the party Mrs Faryal Talpur warmly welcomed the new entrants, expressing confidence that their inclusion will further strengthen the party’s position in AJK. She said that the PPP has always been the true representative of the people of AJK and will continue its struggle for their political and economic rights under the leadership of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari. AJK Minister for Higher Education Zafar Iqbal Malik also called on Faryal Talpur and formally announced his decision to join PPP. The minister expressed full confidence in the leadership of the PPP and pledged to work actively for the party’s mission of progress, equality, and people’s empowerment across AJK. Another group of AJK ministers, including Faheem Akhtar Rabbani, Muhammad Asim Sharif, Ch. Muhammad Akbar, and Abdul Majid Khan, called on Faryal Talpur and announced their decision to join the PPP. Senior PPP leader Ch Muhammad Riaz was also present at the meeting. The newly joined leaders expressed their full confidence in the vision and leadership of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari pledged to play an active role in advancing the Party’s mission of democracy, development, and public service across Azad Jammu & Kashmir. The development has made the PPP the single largest party in the AJK Legislative Assembly. In the 53-member assembly, the PPP now enjoys the support of 27 members, followed by the PML-N with nine, PTI with five, and two regional parties with one member each. The group of PTI renegades led by Haq has been reduced to ten members. Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari spoke over telephone with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss the political situation in AJK, sources said on Sunday, as the PPP moves to form a new government in the territory. According to sources, President Zardari took Prime Minister Shehbaz into confidence over the PPP’s decision and the strategy for government formation in AJK. After the call, the prime minister tasked the PML-N committee on AJK affairs – chaired by Ahsan Iqbal and including Rana Sanaullah and Amir Muqam – with holding talks with the PPP. The committee has begun consultations with the PML-N’s AJK chapter, the sources added. Separately, PML-N parliamentary leader and former AJK prime minister Raja Farooq Haider reiterated his party’s stance that it will sit in opposition and will not be part of any government formation in AJK. He told the party’s parliamentary meeting that the decision to remain in opposition stands and there is no room for change.
