Former AJK Premier Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Quits PPP Over Ticket Row

Former Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) prime minister Sardar Tanveer Ilyas has officially resigned from the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), citing differences over the allocation of party tickets. His resignation was submitted to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Wednesday, July 2, 2026, after several days of high-level party meetings aimed at persuading him to stay.

Sources close to Mr. Ilyas revealed that the core of the dispute lies in the constituencies for the upcoming elections. Ilyas had expressed a desire to contest from LA-15 (Bagh-II) and LA-22 (Poonch-V). However, the PPP leadership reportedly favored him running from LA-25 (Neelum-I), an option he was unwilling to accept. This disagreement also impacted his close associate, Agriculture Minister Ali Shan Soni, who also resigned from the party. Soni had expected a ticket for LA-6 (Samahni) but did not receive it, with the PPP eventually awarding it to retired Major Khizar-ur-Rehman Raja.

The PPP leadership, including Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Faryal Talpur, finalized remaining party tickets on Tuesday, July 1, 2026. Notably, Mr. Ilyas was not invited to this meeting, further fueling speculation about the end of his association with the party. On Wednesday, the PPP formally announced its candidates for several constituencies, including Ziaul Qamar for LA-15 and Ahmed Saghir for LA-22, effectively closing the door on Ilyas's aspirations in those seats. The party also made decisions regarding other constituencies, preferring younger candidates or those who recently joined the party, signaling a shift in its internal dynamics.