Tanveer Ilyas likely to quit PPP over AJK tickets

The Pakistan Peoples Party Azad Kashmir has suffered a major political setback as former Azad Kashmir prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas has decided to leave the party after differences over election tickets, sources said.

Sources said Tanveer Ilyas was unhappy after the PPP did not issue tickets to him from the three constituencies he had sought for the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections.

According to sources, Tanveer Ilyas had sought PPP tickets from Wasti Bagh, Pachiot and Upper Neelum.

Sources said the PPP was ready to give him tickets from Neelum and Pachiot, but wanted to field Sardar Zia Al-Qamar from Wasti Bagh.

They said there had earlier been an understanding to give Tanveer Ilyas the ticket from Wasti Bagh, but differences emerged at the final stage.

In the list of candidates approved by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Tanveer Ilyas was not issued a ticket from any constituency, sources said.

Sources said differences over the selection of constituencies and party tickets were being cited as the main reason behind the rift.

They said Tanveer Ilyas had started consultations with close associates about his political future.

According to sources, he is likely to leave the PPP if he does not get tickets from his desired constituencies, including Bagh district.

The Istehkam Pakistan Party has also offered Tanveer Ilyas to rejoin the party, sources said.

Tanveer Ilyas had joined the Istehkam Pakistan Party after stepping down as prime minister of Azad Kashmir. He later left the party and joined the PPP Azad Kashmir.

Political circles are now watching his next move, with an important announcement expected soon.