PTI announces boycott of AJK elections in 'solidarity with public'

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced a boycott of the upcoming elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

The decision was announced after a meeting of the party’s core committee, which said PTI would not take part in the electoral process under the current circumstances.

In its statement, the party said the move was not a political strategy but a principled stand with the people of AJK, who it said were facing severe political and humanitarian challenges. PTI said sit-ins were under way in several areas, including Rawalakot, where people were protesting for their legitimate demands.

The party alleged that the use of force had resulted in loss of lives and said disruption in the supply of essential goods had worsened public hardships. The core committee called for an immediate and fair resolution of the issues facing the people of AJK.

PTI also claimed that the constitutional, democratic and political identity of the region was being undermined, while representative voices were being suppressed through arrests and crackdowns on political workers.

The statement further alleged restrictions on freedom of expression and media, saying such an environment had stripped the election process of its credibility.