ISLAMABAD, Jan 2: All the opposition parties of Azad Kashmir, including Muslim Conference forward bloc, have demanded Prime Minister Sardar Atique Ahmed Khan to immediately step down, saying he had lost legitimacy to continue in the office.

Speaking at a press conference after a joint meeting of the opposition parties attended by 27 members of the AJK Legislative Assembly here on Friday, their leaders said a no-trust motion would be moved against the PM if he did not comply with the demand. They reminded that Sardar Atique had offered to quit if the opposition mustered support of 24 members.

President Jammu Kashmir Peoples Muslim League (JKPML) Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, leader of the Muslim Conference forward bloc Sardar Sikandar Hayat Khan and president Pakistan Peoples Party AJK Chaudhry Abdul Majid said the incumbent AJK government had lost majority in the assembly and alleged that the government led by Sardar Atique had set new records of corruption.

They said the opposition parties had unanimously decided to bring a no-confidence motion against the PM, if he did not opt for voluntary resignation. They however did not set a deadline for his resignation and gave no timeframe for moving the motion.

Barrister Chaudhry said the AJK government had failed to deliver and lost confidence of majority of the members of the house.

Sardar Sikandar said the government ridiculed the elected representatives and appointed powerless ministers. He said due to wrong policies pursued by the government, it was in a debt of Rs6 billion. “We want to see a democratic change in the state and fully agree with the idea of bringing

no-trust motion against the PM”, he remarked.

He alleged that 10,000 kanlas of land in Mirpur has been sold out at a throughaway price of Rs100 per kanal.