MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government on Friday notified acceptance of a cabinet member’s resignation, a week after his father rejoined a rival political party.

“In exercise of his powers under Article 14 (3) of the AJK Interim Constitution, the Prime Minister has accepted the resignation of Farooq Sikandar, minister for revenue and custodian [evacuee property] with effect from February 18, 2021,” read a notification issued by the cabinet wing of the AJK Services and General Administration Department.

Mr Sikandar is the elder son of senior Kashmiri leader Sardar Sikandar Hayat, who formally ended his association with the PML-N on Feb 12 by rejoining Muslim Conference (MC), a party that elevated him to the office of AJK premier in 1985, president in 1991 and again premier in 2001.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2021