Written by: Zulfiqar Ali
The former Prime Minister of Pakistan-administered Kashmir had paved the way for him to occupy an official guest house located in Kashmir House, Islamabad, even before he was removed from the post of Prime Minister. According to important official sources, during his tenure, he had declared four rooms on the second floor of the three-storey official guest house in Kashmir House as “annexes” of the Prime Minister’s House. A notification was also issued in this regard, which was kept secret. A copy of this notification is available only with the Department of Services and General Administration and the then Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister.
Official sources say that the purpose of declaring the four rooms of the guest house as annexes of Kashmir House without any need was so that when the then Prime Minister steps down from his post, he could occupy these rooms. That is why the notification issued in this regard was kept secret.
However, during a recent news conference, the former prime minister admitted that he was staying in the annexe of the Prime Minister’s House in Kashmir House. Sources say that the then prime minister had taken the position that more rooms were needed for Kashmir House, due to which four rooms of this guest house were declared as annexes. They say that the fact is that there was no need for an annexe for the Prime Minister’s House.
They say that the former prime minister had already planned that after leaving the prime ministership, he would occupy the guest house of Kashmir House.
On November 17, 2025, the Pakistan People’s Party and the Muslim League-N, which were part of his coalition government, removed him from the prime ministership through a no-confidence motion, after which the Pakistan People’s Party government was formed under the leadership of Faisal Mumtaz Rathore with the support of the Muslim League-N. The outgoing prime minister moved from the Prime Minister’s House in Kashmir House, Islamabad, to the second floor of the same guest house and is still residing there. Initially, the basement, ground floor and first floor of the guesthouse were also under his use. The first floor was reserved for the Speaker’s Chamber.
It should be noted that the former Prime Minister was the Speaker of the Azad Kashmir Assembly before being appointed as the Prime Minister on April 20. When he was the Speaker, he declared the first floor of the same guesthouse as the Speaker’s Chamber. Later, the current Speaker withdrew the Speaker’s Chamber where his guests from abroad stay. However, the basement rooms are still not used because the former Prime Minister is staying in the same guesthouse.
Interestingly, the former Prime Minister is using the rooms of this guesthouse with the full support of the current Prime Minister and he is not being asked to move from there. The tradition of protecting mutual interests in the politics of Pakistan-administered Kashmir is also prominent in this matter. This is why no member has spoken on this issue in the 53-member assembly so far.
How was the path paved for the occupation of guesthouses, circuit houses and rest houses by former Prime Ministers?
On November 30, 2023, the Assembly of Pakistan-administered Kashmir quietly approved additional privileges for former prime ministers, under which former prime ministers can stay free of charge in government guest houses, circuit houses and rest houses located in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. This new law paved the way for former prime ministers to occupy government guest houses, circuit houses and rest houses.
According to this law, former prime ministers were also allowed to use a 3000 cc vehicle and have five policemen and a grade 16 assistant for security. Earlier, former prime ministers could use only a 1600 to 1800 cc vehicle, while only one policeman and a grade 11 assistant were allowed for their security. Former prime ministers already receive four hundred liters of petrol per month and a monthly house rent of Rs 50,000.
The purpose of this new law was not only to obtain additional privileges but also to legalize the occupation of government guest houses, circuit houses and rest houses by former prime ministers. All the members of the assembly were together to approve additional privileges for former prime ministers.
The former prime minister also kept the Speaker House in Muzaffarabad in his use. This residence has been under his use since the time he was appointed Speaker. Even after becoming the Prime Minister, the Speaker House remained in his use, and even after his removal from the Prime Ministership, the situation did not change.
The personal residence of the current speaker is in Muzaffarabad, and the former prime minister is using the Speaker House at his will. In this way, the 53 members present in the assembly protect the interests of each other.
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