The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) will form government in Kashmir, Pakistan after securing 27 seats in the 52-member Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly. This majority emerged on October 26, 2025, when 10 lawmakers defected from rivals. President Asif Ali Zardari approved the move during a meeting in Islamabad on October 25, 2025. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari attended. The transition targets incumbent Prime Minister Anwarul Haq via no-confidence motion or resignation. Why now? Frequent AJK leadership changes signal deeper political volatility.
Regional Ripple Effects
The PPP to form government in Kashmir, Pakistan alters power dynamics in a disputed territory central to South Asia’s tensions. AJK’s governance influences Pakistan-India relations and federal resource allocation. This Bilawal Bhutto Kashmir power transition revives PPP’s historical foothold, potentially easing federal-provincial strains under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s coalition. Yet, it underscores coalition fragility, with PML-N opting for opposition. For South Asia, stable AJK rule could bolster diplomatic efforts on Kashmir, amid ongoing border skirmishes and UN resolutions. Economic aid, like PKR 23 billion annual federal grants to AJK, hangs in balance during this flux.
PPP Secures Decisive Majority and Form Government in Kashmir
Lawmakers from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and allies switched to the PPP on Sunday, October 26, 2025. This lifted the party’s tally from 17 to 27 seats. The assembly requires 27 votes for majority. Defectors include AJK President’s son Sardar Muhammad Hussain and ministers like Chaudhry Yasir Sultan, Sardar Muhammad Ikhlaq, and Zafar Iqbal Malik. PPP leaders hailed the shift as a mandate for change.
Chaudhry Yaseen, a senior PPP figure and likely premiership nominee, confirmed the numbers. “All parliamentary members endorsed the move to form a new government,” he stated. Support extends to independents like Sardar Atiq of Muslim Conference and Hasan Ibrahim of Jammu Kashmir Peoples Party, pushing backing beyond 30.
PML-N, with nine seats, rejected coalition overtures. AJK chapter president Shah Ghulam Qadir announced opposition status. “The experiment of the coalition government has failed,” Qadir said. Federal PML-N formed a three-member panel, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, and Amir Muqam to negotiate transition logistics with PPP.
Bilawal Bhutto Kashmir Power Transition Unfolds
Bilawal Bhutto Kashmir power transition gained momentum at the October 25, 2025, Islamabad huddle. AJK PPP delegates met President Zardari. Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari joined, alongside women wing head Faryal Talpur and senior aides like Chaudhry Muhammad Riaz. Discussions covered governance challenges and party strategy.
Zardari greenlit the no-trust push against Haq, in office since April 2023. “The PPP is assuming responsibility in difficult circumstances, but I am confident the party will deliver in AJK just as it has in the past,” Zardari told delegates. Sources indicate Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will announce the premiership pick on October 27, 2025.
This marks the fourth AJK premier in four-and-a-half years. Haq replaced Sardar Tanveer Ilyas after a court disqualification. Ilyas followed PTI’s Abdul Qayyum Niazi in 2021. Such churn erodes investor confidence, with AJK’s economy reliant on remittances (PKR 100 billion yearly) and tourism.
Federal involvement signals unity. Zardari contacted Sharif post-meeting, briefing on PPP to form government in Kashmir, Pakistan plans. Talks focused on financial transfers and administrative handover.
PPP Oath Ceremony October Preparations
The PPP oath ceremony October schedule remains fluid as of 4:35 PM on Monday, October 27, 2025. A no-confidence vote could convene within days, paving way for swearing-in. Yaseen emerges as frontrunner, per party insiders.
Preparations include cabinet formation. Talpur met defectors, integrating women and youth wings. Priorities: Hydropower projects like Neelum-Jhelum (capacity 969 MW, generating PKR 50 billion revenue) and debt relief, as AJK owes PKR 150 billion to federal kitty. Opposition PTI, now at four seats post-defections, vows resistance. PTI forward bloc members cited governance lapses under Haq.
Background: AJK’s Turbulent Politics
Azad Jammu and Kashmir operates under interim constitution, with Islamabad controlling defence and foreign affairs. Elected in July 2021, the assembly’s term ends July 2026. PPP last ruled AJK in 2006-2011 under Sardar Muhammad Yaqoob Khan.
Recent protests over wheat prices (PKR 2,800 per 40kg bag) and power tariffs fueled unrest, prompting Haq’s exit push. Federal aid surged to PKR 360 billion since 2022 for infrastructure. This Bilawal Bhutto Kashmir power transition revives PPP’s reconciliation ethos, echoing Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s 1970s accords.
What’s Next: Stability Stakes
The PPP to form government in Kashmir, Pakistan promises policy continuity on development. Yet, PML-N’s opposition risks gridlock on budgets. Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari’s announcement today could accelerate the PPP oath ceremony October. Regional eyes watch: Will this stabilise AJK or ignite fresh feuds? As South Asia navigates monsoon recoveries and trade pacts, AJK’s helm shift tests federal cohesion.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, October 27th, 2025
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