MUZAFFARABAD: The parliamentary party of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly has demanded that its recommendations be given due weight in the appointment of the region’s Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), citing its position as the second largest bloc in the house.

Presided over by parliamentary leader and former AJK president and prime minister Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob, the meeting stressed that the PPP must be formally consulted in the process and that its input should be implemented in letter and spirit.

Around 10 legislators, including PPP regional president Chaudhry Muhammad Yasin and Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar, physically attended the meeting, while one participated through video link.

Three could not attend the meet for being abroad. Former AJK premier Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, who has also joined PPP, attended on special invitation.

Under the AJK Interim Constitution, the CEC is appointed by the AJK president on the advice of the chairman of the AJK Council — i.e., the Prime Minister of Pakistan — from nominees proposed by the AJK prime minister in consultation with the leader of the opposition.

At present, the AJK prime minister is drawn from among the 20 lawmakers of the PTI ‘forward bloc’, while the opposition leader represents the five-member PTI group.

The PPP, which initially had 13 lawmakers, now commands 17 after the inclusion of four members from the PTI forward bloc.

The PML-N holds nine seats, while two other members belong to state-based parties. The office of CEC has been vacant since January this year.

According to a press release issued on Saturday, the PPP parliamentary party also reiterated its commitment to resist any unconstitutional move regarding the status of refugees from occupied Jammu and Kashmir settled in Pakistan, affirming that the 12 reserved seats for them are an inseparable part of the AJK Constitution.

It declared that the PPP would not support any attempt to alter this arrangement.

The meeting also discussed a recent interview of PPP’s regional president with a UK-based journalist and YouTuber, wherein he had also expressed reservations about these seats.

Mr Yasin clarified at the meeting that his response was being misconstrued and that he had suggested, “in his personal capacity,” that the mode of election for these seats should be changed from direct voting to proportional representation of parties, based on their vote share within AJK.

Participants further observed that with general elections approaching, there was no scope for fresh delimitation of constituencies, urging restraint from speculation or debate on the issue.

The meeting also expressed confidence in PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Ms. Faryal Talpur and chalked out a strategy for the forthcoming polls.

The legislators pledged to secure a majority to form the next government.

Tributes were paid to President Asif Ali Zardari for his leadership, while Mr. Bhutto-Zardari was lauded for his services at home and abroad, including his stance during Pakistan-India tensions and his role in projecting the Kashmir issue at global forums. He was also congratulated on receiving the Nishan-i-Imtiaz.

The meeting condemned Indian atrocities in occupied Jammu and Kashmir and acknowledged the services of Pakistan’s armed forces in defending the country.

Published in Dawn, August 24th, 2025