Raja Faisal Rathore of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) officially became the new Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Tuesday. AJK Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Lateef Akbar administered the oath to him during a ceremony attended by senior political and military figures.
The swearing-in event was attended by the governors of Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, senior leader Faryal Talpur, and other members of the country’s high command also attended the ceremony.
This appointment follows a decisive vote in the AJK legislative assembly on Monday. Lawmakers removed former Prime Minister Anwarul Haq from his position through a no-confidence motion. A majority of 36 members, including those from the PPP and the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), supported the motion.
Read: AJK Assembly to Vote on No-Confidence Motion Against PM Anwar-ul-Haq
In his speech after taking the oath, Prime Minister Rathore extended his gratitude to the PPP’s top leadership. He specifically thanked President Asif Ali Zardari and Faryal Talpur for entrusting him with the responsibility.
He also paid tribute to the Pakistan Army, stating, “I pay tribute to the Pakistan Army, who are defending us by sacrificing their lives.” The new Prime Minister further committed his party to a key objective, saying, “The PPP has taken the responsibility of restoring the relationship with the people.”
