MUZAFFARABAD: Amid growing disquiet and discontent in the ranks of the nascent Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), some of its senior members are reportedly trying hard to persuade Prime Minister Imran Khan to summon a parliamentary party meeting to help him have a first-hand information about their concerns and apprehensions, it has reliably been learnt.

The efforts have picked up pace after AJK Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi got released an “analysis” for the vernacular press from the Press Information Department (PID).

“Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi has firmed his grip over [AJK’s] power and by holding grand political shows and implementing development schemes he has given substance to his nomination by Imran Khan. His political acuity has landed opponents in deep waters and proved him a man of strong nerves,” claimed the press release.

Background interviews by Dawn with some cabinet members on condition of anonymity revealed that most of them

were unhappy with Mr Niazi for being “constantly ignored in affairs related to their respective portfolios”.

What had particularly ruffled their feathers were the frequent shuffling in top bureaucracy "without any consultation with them" as well as inductions against some important discretionary posts of persons who had allegedly opposed the PTI candidates during election campaign.

Another minister maintained that the AJK people had voted the PTI to run the affairs of government and not any “particular family”.

“While the former prime minister was running the government through bureaucracy, the incumbent [Mr Niazi] is doing this through

some of his close relations instead of the cabinet,” he alleged.

More than five ministers this correspondent spoke to confirmed that some senior party leaders had been trying to draw attention of the party chairman [PM Khan] towards the “sorry state of affairs in AJK”.

When contacted, Information Minister Sardar Faheem Rabbani said every lawmaker could harbour a desire to hold a meeting with the party chairman and there was nothing wrong with it.

“If they want the chairman to summon the parliamentary party meeting where they can present their viewpoint, they can convey this desire to him through the party's regional president,” he said, referring to senior minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas.

He dismissed allegations that PM Niazi was not taking ministers on board on official matters.

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2022