ISLAMABAD: Faisal Mumtaz Rathore, a seasoned political figure known for his conciliatory approach and longstanding association with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has been nominated as the next Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Born on April 11, 1978, in Rawalpindi, Rathore hails from one of AJK’s most prominent political families. He is the son of former AJK prime minister, the late Sardar Mumtaz Hussain Rathore, a towering figure in the region’s politics. His mother, Begum Farhat Rathore, also served as a member of the AJK Legislative Assembly and headed the PPP Women’s Wing.
The Rathore family is counted among the founding pillars of the PPP in Azad Kashmir, with an extensive legacy of political service spanning decades. Faisal Rathore received his early education in Rawalpindi and completed his graduation from the University of the Punjab.
His father held key constitutional positions, including Senior Minister after the 1975 polls, Prime Minister in 1990, Leader of the Opposition in 1991, and Speaker of the AJK Legislative Assembly in 1996. Following his father’s passing, Rathore’s elder brother, Masood Mumtaz Rathore, was elected to the assembly in 1999 to complete the remainder of the term.
Faisal Rathore first contested elections from LA-17 Haveli Kahuta in 2006. He was elected to the AJK Legislative Assembly for the first time in 2011 on a PPP ticket and served as Minister for AJK Electricity and Hydropower in the cabinet of then Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed.
In 2016, he faced a politically motivated case and was arrested, later being acquitted of all charges. On March 23, 2017, he was appointed Secretary General of PPP AJK, a position he continues to hold.
Rathore returned to the assembly in the 2021 elections and emerged as a prominent opposition voice. In 2023, he joined the coalition government of Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq as Minister for Local Government and Rural Development. He was also appointed head of the government’s negotiation committee with the Awami Action Committee, earning recognition for his calm, non-controversial, and dialogue-oriented approach.
Widely respected across political and administrative circles, Rathore is also known for his experience in national broadcast media.
Within the PPP ranks, he is regarded as a trusted ally of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Faryal Talpur, and is seen as a representative of the party’s ideological and middle-class base.
With his nomination as AJK Prime Minister, Faisal Mumtaz Rathore is set to lead the region 6 at a critical political juncture, carrying forward a deep-rooted family legacy and his own decade-long parliamentary experience.