MUZAFFARABAD: A covert campaign by a key leader of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to replace Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas by himself seems to have fallen flat for the time being for want of the requisite support from within the parliamentary party, it emerged on Monday.

Ilyas was elected as new Leader of the House in April this year, replacing Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi, the first pick of Imran Khan, after the PTIclinched a clear victory in July 2021 polls in Azad Kashmir.

However, for quite some time the AJK capital has again been abuzz with speculations that another noconfidence motion is on the cards. The speculations had borrowed credence after Speaker Chaudhry Anwarul Haq`s strained relations with Mr Ilyas and his alleged secret meetings with some opposition leaders for their support to his candidature for the coveted ofhce orvice versa.

Initially a strong proponent of Ilyas` nomination for the AJK premiership, Mr Haq has been at loggerheads with him for the past fewmonths in protest against what he believes the latter`s `extraordinary leanings`towardsPresidentBarrister Sultan Mahmood.

He was particularly angry at preference to Mahmood in matters related to Mirpur division, mainly the postings and transfers of senior ofhcials, sources in the PTI said. Both Mr Haq and Mr Mahmood come from Mirpur division`s Bhimber and Mirpur districts, respectively.

At least two important cabinet members, who spoke to Dawn on condition of anonymity, said Mr Haq `wanted his choice in transfers and postings of civil servants in Mirpurdivision implemented without an iota of dissent`.

The other minister recalled that during the recent Assembly sessions, Mr Haq did not camouflage his resentment towards the government following which PM Ilyas had constituted a ministerial committee to address his `genuine concerns and grievances`.

Sources close to the prime minister confided to Dawn that on Friday night Mr Ilyas had discussed in detail the prevailing situation with Aamer Mehmood Kiani, PTI`s additional secretary general, in the context of the origin of rumours about a no trust against him, and both had `resolvedto cut the conspirators down to size`.

`Following a briefing by Mr Kiani, the PTI chairman has not only expressed his trust in PM Ilyas but has also assured him that any conspiracy to destabilise his government will not be tolerated,` the sources claimed.

However, what had further incensed Mr Haq was PM Ilyas` meeting with Raja Zulgarnain Khan a prominent political figure and former AJK president belonging to Bhimber at his private residence in Islamabad on Sunday.

Later in the afternoon, President Mahmood had also driven to the PM`s residence and both leaders were seentittering in a relaxed mood in the of ficially released photos.

According to sources, Mr Haq had remarked before some people that the PM had crossed the red line by meddling in his constituency.

When contacted by this scribe on phone after several attempts for his version, Mr Haq declined to take up any question on this issue.

This correspondent also made calls to PTI senior vice president Fawad Chaudhry, secretary general Asad Umar and additional secretary general Kiani to ascertain their viewpoint in this regard, but their mobile phones were switched off.