Azad Kashmir Information Minister Chaudhry Rafique Nayyar has resigned from his ministerial position and announced that he will contest the upcoming elections as an independent candidate from the Khooyi Ratta constituency.
According to reports, Rafique Nayyar submitted his resignation to Azad Kashmir President Faisal Mumtaz Rathore on Monday. His decision comes ahead of the 2026 general elections and marks a significant political development in the region.
The resignation follows changes within the political landscape as parties prepare for the upcoming elections. Nayyar’s move to contest as an independent candidate has drawn attention because he previously served as the Information Minister in the Azad Kashmir government.
Despite his announcement, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Abdul Qayyum Qamar stated that Rafique Nayyar has been declared the party’s unanimous candidate from the Khooyi Ratta constituency.
However, reports also indicate that Rafique Nayyar was not awarded a PPP ticket for the 2026 general elections. This development is believed to have influenced his decision to resign from his ministerial office and enter the election race independently.
Political observers say the decision reflects the changing political dynamics ahead of the elections. As parties finalize their candidates, several leaders have reconsidered their political affiliations and future plans.
Rafique Nayyar’s resignation is not the first high-profile departure from the party in recent months. Earlier, former Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, former minister Ali Shan Soni, and several other political figures also left the party, highlighting ongoing political shifts in the region.
The series of resignations has generated discussion among political analysts, who believe the upcoming elections could witness increased competition in several constituencies.
By choosing to contest as an independent candidate, Rafique Nayyar will seek public support without officially representing a political party. His campaign is expected to focus on local issues and voter engagement in the Khooyi Ratta constituency.
Election preparations across Azad Kashmir continue as political parties announce candidates and organize campaign strategies. The coming weeks are expected to bring further political developments as leaders position themselves ahead of the polls.
Officials have not announced any immediate replacement for the Information Minister’s position following Nayyar’s resignation. The government is expected to address the vacancy according to constitutional and administrative procedures.
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The upcoming elections are considered an important milestone for Azad Kashmir, with political parties and independent candidates preparing to compete for public support. Rafique Nayyar’s resignation and decision to contest independently add another significant development to the evolving political landscape as election activities gather momentum across the region.
