Former AJK PM Tanveer Ilyas joins Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party

ISLAMABAD: Former Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas on Wednesday announced that he had joined the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP).

The announcement came after a meeting with IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan and Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Awn Chaudhry.

Aleem Khan welcomed Tanveer Ilyas into the party by presenting him with the IPP party muffler.

The development follows Tanveer Ilyas’ resignation from the primary membership of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP-AJK) after reported differences over the allocation of party tickets ahead of the July 27 AJK Legislative Assembly elections.

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According to a report by The News, negotiations between the two sides remained unsuccessful, with differences primarily centred on the distribution of tickets for the upcoming elections.

Sources said Tanveer Ilyas had sought party tickets for several constituencies, including Bagh Central, Pachiot, Upper Neelum and Rawalakot City. However, the allocation of the Bagh Central seat reportedly remained the main point of contention during talks.

In a related development, AJK government minister Ali Shan Soni also resigned from the primary membership of PPP-AJK, raising concerns within party ranks over the political impact of the departures ahead of the elections.

Earlier this month, the AJK Election Commission announced that elections for the Legislative Assembly would be held on July 27. The previous elections in the region were held in July 2021.