Muzaffarabad, July 27:  The Muslim Conference leader Sardar Atique Ahmed Khan was elected unopposed as the Prime Minister of AJK on Tuesday.
No candidate turned up to challenge Sardar Atique for the top position. Following Raja Farooq Haider’s resignation as the Prime Minister, nomination papers were to be submitted for the new leader of the House till 6pm today. However, no candidate except Sardar Atique submitted nomination papers by the scheduled time. Sardar Atique will now seek vote of confidence from the members of AJK Assembly on Thursday.
Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan likely to be supported by the members of ruling Muslim Conference and the members of the  opposition parties including PPP AJK, People’s Muslim League and  MQM.
It has been learnt that he is likely to prop up the support of more than 35 members of legislative assembly including 18 ministers. As a prerequisite he needs to have the support of 25 members to show simple majority in the house of 49.
Meanwhile the AJK President Raja Zulqarnain Khan has summoned the Legislative Assembly session on July 29. He outrightly rejected the request of the out going Prime Minister Raja Farooq Hadier Khan to call the session on August 6.
Sources said that Raja Farooq Hadier’s group has decided to approach the court against the calling of Assembly session on July 29.
Meanwhile the outgoing Prime Minister Raja Farooq Hadier Khan dashed to Raiwind Lahore to a get final word from Nawaz Sharif to set up Muslim League Nawaz in AJK.
In a statement, Haider’s spokesman said that Nawaz Sharif   had already announced the launching of PML (N) in AJK after his meeting with Raja Farooq Hadier Khan and a committee has also been constituted in this regard.
“Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif has expressed concern over the toppling of  Haider’s Govt. AJK is a sensitive region and such moves do send wrong messages across the Line of Control” the statement added.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 27 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 28 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST