ISLAMABAD (Asghar Hayat) Sardar Tanveer Ilyas outshined Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq as his Iftar gathering turned into a grand political event, drawing a massive crowd, including key political figures, journalists, and civil society members. In contrast, the official Iftar dinner hosted by the AJK Prime Minister at Kashmir House saw a notable absence of local government representatives, leading to visible frustration from the premier.
During the government-hosted Iftar, PM Anwar-ul-Haq lashed out at former Prime Minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, questioning why he invited local representatives on the same day as the official event. He assured those in attendance that their concerns would be addressed and urged all representatives, even those absent, to come forward with their issues for government action.
On the other hand, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas’s Iftar transformed into a major political show, attended by Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan Engineer Amir Maqam, PML-N AJK President Shah Ghulam Qadir, PPP AJK President Chaudary Yaseen, Former PM AJK Haji Yaqoob Khan, MNAs, MPAs and other influential figures. A large number of local government representatives who boycotted the government’s event were also present, making it a high-profile affair.
Adding to the significance, Hurriyat leaders, journalists, and social activists also participated in Sardar Tanveer Ilyas’s gathering. Their presence underscored the event’s importance and signaled the growing influence of the former Prime Minister in AJK’s political landscape.
Sources suggest that PM Anwar-ul-Haq’s frustration stemmed from the overwhelming success of his rival’s event, despite his access to government resources. The turnout at Tanveer Ilyas’s gathering not only overshadowed the official Iftar but also demonstrated a shift in political dynamics within AJK.
