ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf PTI has declared a boycott of the upcoming general elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
“We are standing with the people of AJK and will not be a part of the election process in the present scenario,” PTI said in a statement.
According to a statement issued after the PTI core committee meeting, the PTI has decided not to participate in the elections to express solidarity with the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and has made a formal announcement.
The statement said that in the current circumstances, it has been decided not to participate in the elections. This is not a political strategy but a principled solidarity with the Kashmiri people. Azad Kashmir is currently going through a severe political and humanitarian crisis.
PTI said that people in various areas, including Rawalakot, are staging sit-ins for their legitimate demands. Precious lives have been lost due to the use of force. The people are facing difficulties due to the stoppage of food supplies to Azad Kashmir.
The core committee said that an immediate and fair solution should be found to the problems of the Kashmiri people.
The PTI statement said that the constitutional, democratic, and political identity of Azad Kashmir is being undermined, the representative voices of the Kashmiri people are being suppressed, and actions and arrests are being made against political activists.
It was further stated that freedom of expression is limited and restrictions are imposed on the media. In such an environment, the electoral process loses its credibility and meaning. Therefore, we will stand with the Kashmiri people, not the elections.
PTI announced that it will not participate in the elections until the situation returns to normal and the issues of the Joint Public Action Committee are resolved amicably.
The election schedule should be reviewed, and an equal and free electoral environment should be provided to all political parties.
It was further stated that our political struggle will continue for the democratic rights of the Kashmiri people, and a fair solution should be found to the demands of the Joint Public Action Committee.
PTI said that all recommendations of the Parliamentary Board regarding tickets have been suspended with immediate effect, all matters related to the issuance of tickets will remain pending until further decision and will not be part of the electoral process without a free, fair, and peaceful political environment.
