By Staff Correspondent — Muzaffarabad | October 17, 2025
A major political upheaval has struck Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) as two senior ministers — Finance Minister Abdul Majeed Khan and Food Minister Chaudhry Akbar Ibrahim — announced their resignation from the government, leveling grave political, constitutional, and financial allegations against Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq.
Speaking at an emergency press conference at the Central Press Club in Muzaffarabad, both ministers accused the government of “plundering the constitutional rights of refugees settled in Pakistan”, spreading divisive and hateful rhetoric, and undermining the unity of the state.
Abdul Majeed Khan declared that for over a year, a “dangerous and organized campaign of hatred” had been cultivated in the region to sow division between refugees from Pakistan-administered areas and local residents. “For the first time, politics in this state is being built on hatred,” he said. “Refugees are being branded on social media as traitors and looters, this is not only immoral but a direct assault on the state’s integrity.”
Recalling the sacrifices of 1947, Khan said, “The foundation of Azad Kashmir was laid by those refugees who left their homes for freedom. Targeting them today is a betrayal of history.”
Presenting financial figures, the finance minister alleged that the government misused development funds. “After the 2005 earthquake, Azad Kashmir received Rs 1.65 trillion from Pakistan, including Rs 340 billion for development projects,; yet schools remain incomplete, roads broken, and hospitals short of medicines.” He claimed funds were diverted to “buy political loyalties” while refugee constituencies were deliberately neglected.
Khan further charged the government with signing an illegal agreement with an unregistered organization lacking constitutional standing, a move he described as “a conspiracy to paralyze state institutions and reward select groups.”
He warned that efforts to abolish 12 reserved assembly seats for refugees settled in Pakistan were “tantamount to erasing the state’s constitutional identity” and weakening the international standing of the Kashmir issue. Citing global examples, he said, “In countries like France, Italy, Portugal, and Algeria, overseas citizens have representation in parliament; why should Kashmir be any different?”
Directly naming Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq, Khan alleged he had divided state institutions, politicized the bureaucracy, and sacrificed public welfare for personal enmities. “Flour is scarce, medicines have vanished, schools are collapsing, and electricity prices are crushing the people,” he said.
Concluding the press conference, Abdul Majeed Khan formally announced: “In accordance with my conscience and loyalty to the state, I resign from the office of Finance Minister. My colleague, the Food Minister, has also submitted his resignation to the Prime Minister. We cannot remain part of a government that is anti-people and unconstitutional.”
He added that his future political course would be decided after consultations but reaffirmed his commitment to state unity, constitutional supremacy, and the protection of refugee rights.
