AJK prime minister puts up 'demands for stepping down'

Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Chaudhry Anwarul Haq has linked his resignation to the fulfilment of his demands, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Wednesday.

Sources told the 24News TV channel that the prime minister had sought a guarantee that development funds would be released to the members of his cabinet and other members of the assembly even after his resignation.

Similarly, sources added, the prime minister had also sought in writing an assurance that development projects initiated during his term would be completed.

Sources informed that Anwar had put forward his demands to the party leadership and allies.

On the other hand, the conditional offer of resignation had made the political scenario interesting and led to the start of a new round of contacts and consultations between political parties, sources said, adding that if the prime minister’s demands were met, he could submit his resignation to the AJK president today.

Zardari, Bilawal finalize name of new prime minister 

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have finalized the name of the new AJK prime minister.

According to the sources, PPP AJK chapter has not contacted the assembly secretariat for the no-trust motion against the prime minister as yet.

This is despite the fact that 27 assembly members have already signed the motion.

The PPP, sources have informed, has also made members of the forward bloc sign the motion.

PPP leaders Faisal Mumtaz Rathore and Chaudhry Riaz had met with the PML-N leaders Raja Farooq Haider and Shah Ghulam Qadir at the Kashmir House on Tuesday. And both Farooq and Shah signed the document.

Sources elaborated that a no-trust motion should bear the signatures of at least 14 assembly members along with the name of the future leader of the House before its submission.

Reporters: Zahid Bashir and Safeer Raza