Raja Faisal Rathore, the newly elected Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), represents a prominent political family with deep connections to the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Faisal, born on April 11, 1978, in Rawalpindi, is the son of the late Raja Mumtaz Hussain Rathore, who served as AJK’s prime minister. His mother, Begum Farhat Rathore, was a member of the AJK Legislative Assembly and also served as the president of the PPP Women’s Wing.
Faisal’s political journey began early, with his family being among the founding political households of PPP in AJK. He completed his early education in Rawalpindi and graduated from the University of the Punjab. Faisal entered the political scene in 2006 by contesting his first election, and in 2011, he was elected to the AJK Legislative Assembly on a PPP ticket. He later served as Minister for Electricity in Chaudhry Abdul Majeed’s cabinet.
Faisal’s leadership abilities were further recognized when he joined the coalition government of Chaudhry Anwarul Haq in 2023 as the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development. Known for his conciliatory and non-controversial personality, Faisal enjoys a good reputation in political and military circles.
At just 47 years old, Faisal is now the youngest Prime Minister of AJK, continuing his family’s legacy and setting new directions for the region’s political landscape.
