PTI announces boycott of upcoming AJK elections amid unrest

The unrest escalated after deadly clashes in Rawalakot, where JAAC members had staged a sit-in outside the Combined Military Hospital.

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) announced on Thursday that it will not contest the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, citing solidarity with the people of the region and what it described as a “principled stance” under prevailing circumstances.

The decision comes as tensions in AJK remain high following the government’s ban on the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), which continues its sit-in protests demanding constitutional and governance reforms. PTI’s Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said in a statement on X that the party’s move was not a political strategy but an expression of support for Kashmiri aspirations and democratic rights.

“Expressing unwavering solidarity with the aspirations of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, their right to self-determination, and their democratic rights, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has decided not to participate in the elections under the prevailing circumstances,” Akram said.

PTI alleged that several people had lost their lives due to the use of force by authorities and claimed that supplies of essential goods from Punjab to AJK had been halted, worsening hardships for residents. The party argued that the electoral process could not be considered credible while representative voices were suppressed, activists faced arrests, media restrictions were in place, and freedom of expression was curtailed.

The party said it would not participate until the situation normalised, concerns raised by political and public stakeholders were addressed, JAAC’s demands were resolved through dialogue, and all parties were provided a genuinely free and level playing field. PTI also suspended all recommendations made by its AJK Parliamentary Board regarding the allocation of tickets to candidates.

The unrest escalated after deadly clashes in Rawalakot, where JAAC members had staged a sit-in outside the Combined Military Hospital. Police alleged that armed JAAC members opened fire on law enforcement, killing four personnel and injuring 20. JAAC disputed this, claiming security forces used tear gas and shells, leading to civilian casualties.

The election for AJK’s 53-member legislative assembly is scheduled for July 27. Twelve seats are reserved for Kashmiri refugees scattered across Pakistan, a system long criticised as unfair. The JAAC has demanded abolition of these reserved seats, an end to elite privileges, and reforms to the quota system.

PTI said its campaign would instead focus on advocating for Kashmiri democratic rights and supporting JAAC’s demands. “Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf will not engage in the politics of power by ignoring the voice of the Kashmiri people. Our priority is to support their fundamental rights and democratic demands,” the statement added.