ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has reaffirmed that securing the release of its founder, Imran Khan, remains its foremost objective while announcing that it will boycott the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, citing the prevailing political and security situation in the region.
In a statement issued after a meeting of its core committee, the party said its decision to stay away from the July 27 AJK elections was not a political tactic but a principled stand in solidarity with the people of AJK. PTI expressed concern over the ongoing unrest, alleging that the use of force against protesters had resulted in the loss of lives, while shortages of food and other essential commodities had worsened hardships for residents.
The party also claimed that arrests of political workers, restrictions on freedom of expression, and curbs on the media had undermined the credibility of the electoral process. PTI urged the authorities to resolve issues related to the now-proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) through dialogue, review the election schedule, and ensure a free, fair, and peaceful environment for all political parties before holding the polls.
Until normalcy is restored, PTI said it would remain outside the electoral process. The party also suspended all recommendations for election tickets, with its parliamentary board deferring the issuance of tickets until further notice.
Meanwhile, PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja dismissed criticism that the party had lost momentum, insisting that PTI remains the country’s largest social force despite political pressure.
Speaking at the Lahore Press Club, Raja rejected claims that the party had been silenced and maintained that its leadership remained firmly committed to its protest movement. He said the release of Imran Khan remained the party’s central mission and warned that growing public frustration could lead to widespread protests. Raja also indicated that PTI could launch a “Jail Bharo Tehreek” if circumstances demanded.
He further criticized the reported solitary confinement of Imran Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi, calling it a violation of legal and constitutional norms.
Separately, PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa President Junaid Akbar Khan reiterated during a visit to Quetta that the party’s struggle continued to focus on Imran Khan’s release, restoration of democracy, and constitutional supremacy.
Describing Balochistan as the guarantor of Pakistan’s stability, he said the province possessed immense strategic importance, abundant natural resources, and significant economic potential through Gwadar Port. However, he alleged that poor governance had deprived the people of basic necessities and called for democratic governance based on the people’s mandate to address the province’s challenges.
Junaid Akbar also confirmed that PTI would continue political cooperation with Balochistan National Party-Mengal chief Akhtar Mengal, describing him as an important ally.
In a parallel legal development, the AJK Supreme Court deferred hearing on the Election Commission’s application challenging a High Court order directing PTI’s provisional registration. The court decided to hear the interim request alongside the main petition after completion of procedural scrutiny but did not fix a hearing date.
With the AJK Supreme Court set to begin its summer recess until October, the registration dispute is unlikely to be decided before the July 27 elections.
