MUZAFFARABAD: While the unrelenting rains have brought typical winter chill back in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the political weather has however turned hot, amid a fresh round of exhaustive efforts by various parliamentary groups to send the AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed packing without further ado.

Though Mr Majeed had faced problems in the past as well, such as an abortive no-trust motion in July last year and absence of nearly a dozen ruling Peoples Party (PPAJK) legislators from a special joint session in February this year as a mark of protest against his policies, he however seems to have landed in serious trouble this time round.

The withdrawal of some of Mr Majeed’s orders, in his absence, by acting Prime Minister Chaudhry Yasin had added fuel to the flames, besides acting as a catalyst for renewed attempts for change, sources within his party confided to Dawn.

Most of the angry lawmakers had also called on former prime minister and PPAJK top leader Barrister Sultan Mahmood, considering him as a suitable and reasonable replacement for Mr Majeed as he had also successfully run the PPAJK government for five years in the past.

Mr Mahmood, who has long been blaming the incumbent setup of huge corruption, was named as successor to Mr Majeed in the no-trust move that was withdrawn in the last moment after the PML-N pulled out its support to it under the directions of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

Following the visible unrest in the PPAJK parliamentary party, Mr Mahmood had expedited his efforts to oust Majeed, “but with the blessing of PPP central leadership,” sources said.

The sources further said that Faryal Talpur MNA, who calls the shot in AJK, was due to convene a meeting of the parliamentary party in Islamabad within the next 24 hours for a decision to resolve the crisis.

“There are 90 per cent chances that Ms Talpur will go for a change and Mr Mahmood is most likely to be her choice as a substitute to the incumbent premier,” one minister told Dawn on condition of anonymity.

On the other hand, main Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) with 12 legislators in the currently 48-member Legislative Assembly was also making contacts with all parliamentary groups and individuals for a change in its favour.

When contacted by Dawn, PML-N AJK chapter’s senior vice president and MLA Chaudhry Tariq Farooq did not rule out the possibility of a no-trust move by his party in the near future.

In this regard, he disclosed, the PML-N had been holding negotiations with the five-member Muslim Conference (MC), two-member Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), one-member Jamiat Ulema Azad Jammu and Kashmir (JUAJK) apart from “several PPAJK lawmakers”.

“Negotiations are underway… However, as yet we have not arrived at any final decision,” he said.

Chaudhry Tariq Farooq said they wished to elevate their party president Raja Farooq Haider (currently the leader of the opposition) to the slot of prime minister.

“We are holding talks on the same lines… Holding talks on these lines with all groups and individuals on these lines is in itself a heartening development,” he said.

However when questioned that whether Mr Majeed’s ouster was more important for PML-N or Mr Haider’s entry upon this office, he said: “A responsible system of governance was more important for our party.”

Sources said some other options were also being mulled by the parties as they wanted to oust Mr Majeed-led government at all costs.