AJK general elections to proceed as scheduled

The general elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir will not be postponed and are scheduled to take place on the twenty-seventh of this month in a free, fair, and transparent manner. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhary confirmed this decision during a joint press conference in Islamabad, which he held alongside the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir, Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon. The minister emphasized that political activities are currently in full swing across the region and noted that the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz is fully prepared to launch its public gatherings starting this Sunday.

According to Chaudhary, everyday life remains completely normal and free of any restrictions in nine out of the ten districts of Azad Kashmir. He asserted that the banned Awami Action Committee has been actively trying to disrupt regional stability, threaten the writ of the state, and interfere with the daily peace of local citizens. Despite these challenges, the minister reassured the public that the democratic process would move forward on schedule.

During the briefing, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Kashmir Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon spoke on the historical, geographical, and religious ties that closely connect Kashmir to Pakistan. He called upon the Kashmiri public to remain steadfast and refuse to be swayed or misled by any external provocations, adding that Pakistan has consistently prioritised their welfare and continues to support them.

Noon also expressed deep concern over the ongoing situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, characterising it as the most heavily militarized territory in the world today. He condemned the severe human rights violations committed by Indian forces in the occupied region, pointing specifically to actions aimed at demographic engineering and the continued detention of prominent Hurriyat leaders.