Raja Farooq Haider likely to become PoK leader

Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) is likely to appoint Raja Farooq Haider as the Prime Minister in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after the party’s victory in the recent polls.

PML-N leaders said after the PML-N’s landslide victory in PoK general elections, a race was on among the top leaders of the party’s regional chapter for the coveted office.

Although the party leadership has yet to make a decision, Raja Farooq Haider — the president of the PML-N PoK chapter — was being rated as the strongest contender for the office.

PML-N sources said the party was expected to form the government before August 14. Shah Ghulam Qadir, Farooq Sikander, Chaudhry Tariq Farooq, Chaudhry Aziz, Chaudhry Yasin Gulshan and Mushtaq Minhas are among candidates likely to be assigned key governmental or legislative responsibilities.

Shah Ghulam Qadir and Chaudhry Tariq Farooq were also being considered for premiership. Apart from the Prime Minister, the constitutional term of PoK President Sardar Yaqoob was set to expire in a little over a month.

The PML-N, as such, will have to nominate a candidate for this position as well.

Requesting anonymity, some PML-N stalwarts close to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said the selection of the next PoK premier was discussed with him when he visited Muzaffarabad on Friday.

They said several political issues were deliberated upon during the visit and candidates for different portfolios, including the new PoK Prime Minister, speaker and deputy speaker, and reserved seats were considered.

Some reports suggested journalist-turned-politician Mushtaq Minhas could be the next PoK Prime Minister. Credible sources, however, said Mr Minhas was not being considered for the office.

Raja Farooq Haider neither confirmed nor denied reports that he may be the next PoK premier “Whatever the party decides shall be acceptable to me,” he said.