PTI distances itself from the no-confidence motion and the election of the prime minister in AJK

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf has announced that it will disassociate itself from the opposition alliance’s no-confidence motion against the Azad Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and the subsequent process to elect a new prime minister, calling the move a “political game” aimed at undermining public representation.

Top PTI leaders attended a high-level meeting at Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad on Tuesday to discuss the political situation. The party decided to stay out of the electoral and censorship process, but promised to continue representing the public in the assembly and give the incoming government a “difficult time.”

After the meeting, PTI general secretary Salman Akram Raja said, “A political game is being played in Azad Kashmir, where the real representatives of the people are already present. Today, the real political leadership of Kashmir is seen before you.”

He recalled that attempts had previously been made to “create artificial systems” in the region. “Earlier, our 29 MNAs were dissolved and our members were declared independent,” he said, adding that PTI was never registered as a political party in Kashmir.

“The faces behind this system are the same powerful people who are always behind everything,” Raja said. “The people and the State are now on opposite sides and an abyss of lies has been created between them. This is a battle between truth and deception.”

Raja emphasized that the PTI “will continue to appear before the people’s court and defend its right to representation.” He added: “This is not a political change; it is a game. The PML-N and other parties are only immersed in a power struggle. The PTI will remain with the people and away from those who betray them.”

He maintained that “Imran Khan still lives in the hearts of people” and added: “Replacing one face with another is not a political victory.”

PTI leader Khawaja Farooq Ahmed said that while the party might not agree with the federal government, “our hearts beat for the state of Pakistan.” He promised that the PTI would perform equally well in the next elections.

“The entire party supports its founding president,” he said. “As leader of the opposition, I declare that this assembly has lost its credibility. A neutral election commission must be formed immediately to hold general elections. They want to install their own version of Sikandar Sultan Raja to manipulate the polls.”

Former AJK chief minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi said a “hybrid system” had been imposed in Azad Kashmir. “People protested vigorously and made their demands heard. PTI has led the fight to end this hybrid order,” he said. “Now that Prime Minister Anwarul Haq is failing, they are trying to bring back the same outdated system. We will remain aloof from this entire process and demand the establishment of an independent Election Commission in Azad Kashmir.”