PTI Opts Out of Upcoming AJK Elections Amid Prevailing Political Situation

AJK Supreme Court Defers Hearing on PTI Registration Case

Staff Report

ISLAMABAD/MUZAFFARABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced that it will not take part in the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, saying the decision was taken in solidarity with the people of the region and in line with what it described as its "principled stance" under the prevailing circumstances and its support for democratic rights in the region.

The announcement came as the situation in AJK remained tense after the government banned the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), with the group continuing its sit-in and vowing to sustain the protest until its "legitimate demands" are met.

"Expressing unwavering solidarity with the aspirations of the people of AJK, their right to self-determination, and their democratic rights, PTI has decided not to participate in the elections under the prevailing circumstances," the party's Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram said in a statement posted on X.

He said the decision was not a political strategy but an expression of solidarity with the Kashmiri people and a principled stance. PTI said AJK was passing through a "severe crisis", claiming that thousands of people in Rawalakot and other areas were staging sit-ins in support of what it described as their legitimate demands.

The party alleged that several people had lost their lives as a result of the use of force by the authorities and claimed that the supply of essential goods from Punjab to AJK had been completely halted, causing hardship for residents.

"Instead of pushing the Kashmiri people toward further political instability in such circumstances, their issues should be resolved immediately and justly," the statement said.

PTI further claimed that the prevailing situation was harming the constitutional, democratic and political identity of AJK and creating an environment that was eroding what it described as the distinction between AJK and Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. The party also said the approach was detrimental to Pakistan's historical Kashmir policy. According to the statement, the electoral process could not be considered credible while, it alleged, representative voices were being suppressed, political activists were facing action, leaders were being arrested, media restrictions were in place, and freedom of expression was being curtailed.

"PTI will not engage in the politics of power by ignoring the voice of the Kashmiri people, the party said, adding, “Our primary priority is to support the fundamental rights of the Kashmiri people, their democratic demands, and a politics based on justice.” “We will stand with the people, not participate in elections."

The party said it would not participate in the elections until the situation returned to normal, concerns raised by political and public stakeholders were addressed, the issues of the JAAC were resolved through mutual understanding, the election schedule was reviewed, and all political parties were provided with what it described as a genuinely free and level playing field.

PTI said its political campaign would instead focus on advocating for the democratic rights of the Kashmiri people, supporting their demands and seeking what it called a just resolution of the JAAC's demands.

The party also announced the immediate suspension of all recommendations made by the AJK Parliamentary Board regarding the allocation of party tickets to candidates.

It said no further progress would be made on the issuance of tickets or any stage of the electoral process until the situation normalised, the political environment was restored, and the party took further decisions.

"This decision of PTI has not been made based on any calculation of political gain or loss but in accordance with the expression of solidarity with the Kashmiri people, respect for democratic values, and the demands of principled politics,” the party said. The statement reads, “Until a free, fair, and peaceful political environment is ensured for the Kashmiri people, PTI will not participate in this electoral process."

AJK Supreme Court Defers PTI Registration Case hearing

In a separate development, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Supreme Court on Thursday postponed the hearing on the Election Commission's application seeking ex parte interim relief against a high court order that directed the provisional registration of PTI as a political party.

A full bench comprising Chief Justice Raja Saeed Akram, Justice Raza Ali Khan, and Justice Khalid Yousaf Chaudhary ruled that the application would be heard together with the Election Commission's petition for leave to appeal (PLA) after the appeal completes scrutiny in the court registry.

On June 23, the AJK High Court instructed the Election Commission to provisionally register PTI as a political party, effectively putting on hold the commission's May 16 decision that had rejected the party's registration request.

In response, the Election Commission filed a petition for leave to appeal (PLA) before the Supreme Court along with an application under Rules 1 and 2 of Order VI of the Supreme Court Rules, 1978, requesting ex parte interim relief until the appeal is decided.

During the previous hearing, PTI's counsel, Yasir Safeer Mughal, requested an adjournment, stating that he was not sufficiently prepared to present arguments in the case.

Following that request, Chief Justice Akram ordered that the operation of the High Court's June 23 order, specifically regarding the interim relief granted to PTI, would remain suspended until July 2.

When the case was taken up again on Thursday, the apex court directed that the Election Commission's application would be heard alongside the main petition for leave to appeal. No date was set for the next hearing.

With the Supreme Court scheduled to begin its summer vacation on Monday, which will continue until October 7, the matter is unlikely to be heard before the elections. As a result, the legal status of PTI's provisional registration is expected to remain unresolved during the electoral process.