AJK premier calls on Dar second time in a week.

ISLAMABAD -- The newly appointed prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Anwarul Haq, met Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday for the second time in a week to reach an understanding over thorny issues, including the formation of a new cabinet.

The AJK government has struggled to manage its economic matters for the last year, with the previous administration blaming the PML-N-led federal government for depriving the region of its due funds.

Recently, a forward bloc of the PTI under Mr Haq's leadership formed a new government in the AJK with support from the PDM lawmakers.

Since the change of government in AJK, the finance ministry at the Centre has released some Rs5 billion to the region as a development budget.

However, PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif has directed his party in the AJK to refrain from supporting any amendments aimed at increasing the number of cabinet members, something Mr Haq demands.

A source said that since this development, Mr Haq had been desperate to garner support for the amendment to accommodate all legislative members from PML-N, PPP and...