Muzaffarabad – October 27: In a major political shift in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), ten legislators elected on Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) tickets in the 2021 general elections announced their decision to join the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) on Sunday, significantly strengthening the PPP’s prospects of forming the next government in the region.
The development comes amid intensified political manoeuvring to unseat AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, who leads a splinter group of PTI lawmakers. Following the latest defections, the PPP has emerged as the single largest party in the 53-member AJK Legislative Assembly, now commanding the support of 27 members. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) holds nine seats, PTI is left with five, while two regional parties have one member each.
PPP lawmaker Chaudhry Qasim Majeed confirmed the defections, saying the party was now “in a comfortable position to send the incumbent prime minister packing.” He added that all ten lawmakers met PPP leader Faryal Talpur at Zardari House in Islamabad to announce their inclusion.
With developments gaining momentum on the political front in AJK, 10 legislators — all elected on PTI tickets in the July 2021 general elections — announced on Sunday that they were joining the PPP.https://t.co/hhk3jmLLag
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) October 26, 2025
Among the new entrants were Yasir Sultan and Chaudhry Arshad — relatives of AJK President Barrister Sultan Mahmood — along with Chaudhry Akhlaque, Chaudhry Muhammad Rasheed, and Sardar Muhammad Hussain. Other defectors included Abdul Majid Khan, Chaudhry Akbar Ibrahim, Asim Sharif Butt, Sardar Faheem Rabbani, and Zafar Iqbal Malik. Most of them currently serve in Haq’s cabinet, though three had earlier announced their resignations.
Sources said the PPP’s regional leadership met both Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari over the weekend to finalize plans for Haq’s removal. Majeed indicated that more lawmakers could join the party in the coming days.
Meanwhile, PML-N’s regional president Shah Ghulam Qadir announced that his party would sit on the opposition benches. Works and Communications Minister Chaudhry Azhar Sadiq, a close aide to PM Haq, said the premier would not dissolve the assembly but was ready to face a no-confidence motion.
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All PPP lawmakers were scheduled to gather at Sindh House in Islamabad late Sunday to showcase their majority.
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