Faryal meeting lobbyists to pick AJK PM

LONDON: President Asif Ali Zardari’s sister Faryal Talpur is holding meetings in London with Kashmiri lobby groups in Britain to decide about the next prime minister of Azad Kashmir, The News has learnt.
The PPP women’s wing central president arrived here a few days ago on a “private” visit but she has spent every day and every hour of her stay here holding meetings with lobbyists working on behalf of PPP Azad Kashmir stalwarts Chaudhary Majeed, Chaudhary Yaseen and Barrister Sultan Mahmood Chaudhary.
Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) is in a comfortable position to form the next government in Azad Kashmir, after it secured the majority amid widespread allegations of rigging. Of over one million British-Pakistanis, nearly 700,000 or more are from Azad Kashmir, mainly from Mirpur and Kotli districts and they take keen interest in the politics of Azad Kashmir and Pakistan.
The powerful chaudhrys of Azad Kashmir, who have vast business interests in Britain, are all vying for the attention of the leading PPP leader, who acts on behalf of her brother, the president of Pakistan, and is considered the real in-charge of the PPP chapter in Azad Kashmir.
A source in the PPP, who is in full know of these meetings, told The News that the lobbyists were boasting about their ability to use there influence to seek the party leadership’s favour. The supporters of the three PPP leaders are in stiff contest to win the coveted AJK premiership.
The chances of Chaudhary Yaseen, a leading contender for the slot, are strong. His supporters have held three meetings so far with the PPP leader. Not to be left behind, PPP AJK president Chaudhary Majeeed’s supporters, led by his son-in-law, have announced to host an exclusive dinner for Faryal Talpur on Sunday in London. Barrister Sultan is confident that he has worked hard in Britain during the UK election time to deliver votes for both the Tories and the Labour to have a decent number of British politicians

supporting him for his powerful bid.
The News has learnt from many sources that the supporters of Kashmiri leaders are raising money to campaign for their respective candidates. Since arriving here Faryal Talpur has met the Kashmiri groups wooing the most powerful PPP figure to get the person of their liking to the post.