MUZAFFARABAD: Barrister Sultan Mahmood, a former prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), is set to end his political affiliation with the PPP and join Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), it was learnt.

The leader, who had long been voicing concerns about the performance of Chaudhry Abdul Majeed-led government in AJK, would unveil his decision to join PTI on Thursday - the day when the nation marks solidarity with the people of India-held Kashmir.

“On Thursday, Mr Mahmood will attend a Solidarity Day function under the aegis of the PTI, in Islamabad and announce his decision to join the PTI in the presence of Mr Khan,” Tahir Jamil, a member of PTI media team, confirmed to Dawn on Tuesday.

Sources on both sides disclosed that Mr Mahmood had been in contact with the PTI leadership for the past few weeks, after he was completely disappointed by the PPP central leadership with regard to “reformation in the AJK”.

Last week, he had also criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for “condoning the acts of corruption in AJK under the so- called reconciliation policy”.

His contacts with the PTI gained new impetus after Zafar Anwar, a key supporter of PM Majeed with a strong political background, joined the PTI about two weeks ago.

According to sources, a meeting of the PTI was held on Monday at the Islamabad residence of the party’s secretary general Jehangir Tareen, where Mr Mahmood held detailed discussions with Mr Khan on different issues.

He also offered that he could even resign from his AJK Legislative Assembly seat from the lakeside city of Mirpur.

Mr Tareen and Mr Anwar were also present during the meeting.

Mr Jamil said that the meeting discussed a host of issues; including the Kashmir issue, political and economic matters of AJK, decentralisation and devolution of power and women and youth empowerment in accordance with the PTI manifesto.

“The PTI leadership welcomed Mr Mahmood’s decision of joining the PTI along with his supporters, including prominent personalities from one end of the AJK to the other,” he said.

While Mr Anwar would get notification of the PTI, it was however still unclear whether Mr Mahmood would immediately be offered any position in the party.

Following Mr Mahmood’s resignation from assembly, Mr Khan would decide whether he should take part in the by-poll, he added.

Sources said that Mr Mahmood’s cousin, Chaudhry Arshad, also an MLA from Mirpur district, would not tender resignation immediately.

Even though Mr Mahmood was known for switching parties, his following across the region has rarely waned. His latest decision is believed to deal a serious blow to the PPP which achieved victory with his support in 2011.

In 1990, Mr Mahmood had merged his Azad Muslim Conference into Jammu Kashmir Liberation League (JKLL) and become its president. Ahead of the 1996 general elections in AJK, he came in the good books of late Benazir Bhutto and joined her party with most of his supporters from the JKLL.

After the PPP’s victory, Ms Bhutto nominated him for the coveted slot of AJK prime minister, an office he held for next five years, in spite of dismissal of Ms Bhutto’s government at the centre and subsequent political changes in Pakistan.

Mr Mahmood became leader of the opposition in AJK Assembly in 2001 at the head of a mighty opposition, but parted ways with PPP after developing differences with Ms Bhutto on award of party ticket for an AJK Council seat before the 2006 general elections, which he contested from the platform of a new party by the name of PML.

Though his nascent party bagged little more votes than the PPP, the divide benefited the Muslim Conference, which was also enjoying the blessings of then military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf.

Mr Mahmood returned to PPP in December 2010 after merging his PML into it, hardly two weeks before Mr Sharif launched PML-N in the AJK.

Published in Dawn, February 4th, 2015

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