AJK PM resigns, blames federal govt

[Lahore_Real_Estate]

By Irfan Ghauri

ISLAMABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider Khan on Monday tendered his resignation, the third AJK PM to do so since 2006.

The AJK president has accepted the resignation and summoned the AJK Legislative Assembly’s session on July 29 to elect a new leader of the House.

Haider announced his resignation ahead of the crucial vote on a no-confidence motion that was moved by Muslim Conference (MC) President Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, who himself is a contender for the top slot.

Before resigning, Haider accused the federal government of “being part of a conspiracy” to oust him. “I refused to bow before their illegal orders and raised a voice for the rights of the people of AJK on a number of issues, especially the Mangla Dam,” he said.

Haider was elected PM on October 22, 2009. He succeeded Sardar Yaqoob Khan (January 2009 to October 2009) and Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan (July 2006 to January 2009).

The last general elections in AJK were held in July 2006, which opposition parties claimed were rigged.

The Haider-led faction of the MC has now announced it will form an AJK chapter of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz.