Political Turmoil in AJK Unprecedented in 78 Years, Says Former PM Sardar Tanveer Ilyas

Muzaffarabad: Former Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader **Sardar Tanveer Ilyas** has said that the political situation in AJK has never been as deteriorated in its **78-year history** as it has become over the past one and a half years.

Speaking on Geo News’ program *Frontline* with host Sana Mirza, Sardar Tanveer stated that currently, **six to seven key constitutional posts in AJK remain vacant**, and **no department is functioning properly**. He noted that for the first time, **AJK police and doctors have taken to the streets**, and the **common man is also protesting** against the prevailing governance crisis.

He explained that the government was being run through a coalition of the **Forward Bloc**, **PPP**, and **PML-N**, but neither of the two major parties were given meaningful ministries, responsibilities, or powers — all authority rested with **Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq** and his bloc. “The entire political system is paying the price for his decisions,” he added, noting that several ministers have now joined the PPP.

Sardar Tanveer recalled that **Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq** had claimed that any party able to show **27 members** in the assembly could elect its leader of the house. “PPP presented its 27 members, and we expected him to resign, but he has not done so yet,” he said.

The PPP leader further stated that **Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif** had assured **Raja Pervaiz Ashraf** and **Qamar Zaman Kaira** of PML-N’s **support for PPP** in forming the government but clarified that PML-N would **not seek any ministries**. “PPP no longer needs votes — the Prime Minister has publicly announced his support for us,” he said.

Sardar Tanveer warned that **Azad Kashmir is heading toward political chaos**, and restoring the political system has become essential. He added that the **PPP parliamentary party** will hold a meeting soon to decide on the **timing of the no-confidence motion** against Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq. “He is no longer in a position to negotiate — his departure is inevitable,” Tanveer asserted.