After Imran Khan’s ouster as the prime minister of Pakistan, it is now the turn of his handpicked man—the so-called prime Minister of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK). Dissident Members of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) have submitted a no-confidence motion against Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi for his failure to implement the party's manifesto and ensure good governance.

“The prime minister has lost the confidence of the [PTI] parliamentary party for not implementing the party's manifesto, for [resorting to] bad governance, nepotism and violation of merit, and for not highlighting the Kashmir issue,” Dawn quoted the notice of motion submitted by the PoK assembly members.

“The present PM has lost the majority as out of 32 PTI members, 25 have signed the no-confidence motion,” one dissident member told Dawn, adding that they have also elected a successor.

According to media reports, these 25 members including 10 ministers switched loyalties from their leader Imran Khan, a day after his defeat in the National Assembly on Sunday.

These members, however, claim that their move has the “blessings” of Imran Khan.

“This is a process in democracy, “whether initiated by your own people or the opponents. “Now let’s see what happens next,” Khan told reporters sarcastically.

Let it be clear to everyone that the no confidence resolution in AJK Assembly has been submitted on the advice of and after approval from @PTIofficial Chairman @ImranKhanPTI to frustrate a move by PPP-PMLN nexus.
We stand united under the leadership of Khan sahib.

— Khawaja Farooq Ahmed (@KhawajaFarooqA2) April 12, 2022

Meanwhile the “selected” PM of PoK says that “this is a conspiracy against the PTI government in AJK and chairman Imran Khan should take its notice,” he said.

Last year, even after rigging the elections by the former Pakistani minister Imran Khan and the Pakistani army , Khan’s party could get 32 seats in the 53-member House and despite protests from his party members Imran Khan selected his own man  Abdul Qayyum Niazi as the prime minister of the so called Azad Kashmir (AJK). It was followed by massive violent protests from local people accusing Khan and the Pakistani army of holding fake elections and carrying human rights violations and gross atrocities on the local people. Protestors also shouted pro-freedom slogans as they demanded the Pakistani army and other administrators to leave the occupied territory. Since then protests have been happening in PoK on a regular basis where protesters are demanding freedom from the clutches of Pakistan.

Pakistan refers to PoK as “Azad Kashmir” which has its own president,  parliament and prime minister but has been ruling the occupied part of Kashmir like an occupier.

One activist of PoK said that  after watching the extent of development works in the Indian side of Kashmir, people from PoK are envious of it and wish to be part of India.

Also Read : Protests erupt against “sham” elections in PoK – Pak army and Imran Khan are in the firing line