The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has declared it will boycott the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections scheduled for July 27. A spokesperson for the party, founded by Imran Khan, stated that PTI will refrain from participating in the electoral process under the current circumstances.
Emphasizing that the decision is not driven by political advantage or disadvantage, the party expressed that the move is intended to demonstrate solidarity with the Kashmiri people and uphold democratic principles. Currently, PTI serves as the principal opposition party at the federal level.
In a significant development, the spokesperson referenced ongoing protests led by the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). PTI asserted it will not engage in elections until an independent, just, and peaceful political atmosphere is established in the region.
Notably, the AJK government imposed a ban on JAAC on June 5 under the Anti-Terrorism Act following violent demonstrations. This ban came shortly before JAAC’s planned protest on June 9, which aimed to challenge the existence of 12 seats in the AJK assembly reserved for refugees from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) who migrated to Pakistan after 1947.
The party highlighted that AJK is currently experiencing a crisis, with thousands of citizens holding sit-ins across various areas, including Rawalakot. PTI called for an immediate resolution to the Kashmir issue to prevent further political instability in the region.
Additionally, PTI alleged that food supplies from Punjab to AJK have been completely halted, a claim that was denied by both the federal government and the AJK police chief in recent days.
Meanwhile, the PTI parliamentary board has suspended all recommendations related to issuing tickets to candidates, indicating that no progress will be made on this front until further notice.
