MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): In a recent development, the Former PM of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Raja Farooq Haider Khan has given strong reaction to PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir’s meeting with Chaudhry Riaz, a senior leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), has caused a political rift within the PML-N Azad Kashmir.
To express anger, the Former PM of AJK took to his social media account on X, formerly known as Twitter, and criticised Shah Ghulam Qadir’s announcement following the meeting and stated that choices about the Chief Election Commissioner’s (CEC) appointment must be made in accordance with the constitution.
According to the details, the central leader of the (N) League Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Raja Farooq Haider, has said that in the spirit of the constitution, the Leader of the House and the Leader of the Opposition are bound to send names for the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner after consultation. The final decision has to be taken by the Chairman Kashmir Council.
There is no mention of consultation with political parties in the constitution. The party president should state after consulting on constitutional matters. The decision of the Chairman Council will be the final decision.
It should be noted that Pakistan Muslim League (N) Azad Kashmir President Shah Ghulam Qadir met with senior Pakistan People’s Party leader Chaudhry Muhammad Riaz in Islamabad today, in which a detailed discussion was held on the overall political situation of Azad Kashmir.
In the meeting, both leaders agreed that appointments to other key and constitutional positions in Azad Kashmir, including the Chief Election Commissioner, will never be accepted if they are made without consulting the two major parliamentary parties. In this regard, both parties will decide on a joint response plan.
In response to a question on this occasion, both leaders clarified that in the upcoming general elections in Azad Kashmir, the Pakistan Peoples Party and the Muslim League (N) Azad Kashmir will not field a joint candidate in any constituency, but rather both parties will field their own candidates in each constituency.
