ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday alleged that its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president, MNA Junaid Akbar, along with several legislators and party leaders, were “arrested” by the Gilgit-Baltistan government and administration during the party’s election campaign activities ahead of the June 7 general elections in the region.
In a statement published on
The development came as political parties intensified campaigning for the upcoming elections in Gilgit-Baltistan.
The PTI also shared a video of the alleged arrest on social media, which showed Akbar and other leaders sitting inside what appeared to be a van, while a man in a police uniform could be seen in the background.
Earlier, Junaid Akbar had posted in X that PTI workers and supporters had gathered in Ghizer for a rally on Friday as part of the party’s election campaign.
According to another post by Akbar, he and his companions were initially detained while traveling to Ghizer, where, he said, the district administration informed them that they did not possess the required “permit.”
“Isn’t Gilgit-Baltistan part of Pakistan? Why does a Pakistani need a no-objection certificate (NOC) to travel within his own country?” he questioned.
“Fascist tactics and panic are a clear declaration of their defeat. If they lack the courage to compete in the field, why stage this electoral drama? This open violation of constitutional rights and fascism will not be accepted under any circumstances,” he stated.
In a later post, he added: “I was told to leave Gilgit because I don’t have an NOC, and now I have been stopped at the checkpoint again. Isn’t Gilgit-Baltistan part of Pakistan?”
In another post shared from its X account, the PTI accused the federal government of using state machinery to “steal the elections”.
“Our party symbol has been snatched away, we are not allowed to campaign but are arrested… We were detained in Gilgit, arrested and expelled from the province, while PML-N leaders are provided with VIP protocol and full security,” the post said.
Former opposition leader of the National Assembly, Omar Ayub, also condemned the alleged arrest of PTI leaders.
“We strongly condemn the arrest of PTI Provincial Chairman KPK Junaid Akbar Khan in Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan. This action shows that the installed Form 47 regime wants a fake ‘selection’ instead of a free and fair election,” he wrote in X.
Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi warned that if the detained MPs were not released, he would personally intervene.
“I will personally go there to question the UK puppet government and those working to install a fake government about the mistreatment of our MPs,” he said in a post on X.
He added that such actions were “harming Pakistan”.
“Such behavior is increasing hatred, and such measures are creating divisions. Those whose job it is to protect the public mandate always rob Pakistanis of their mandate.
“By failing to provide a level playing field in elections and by forcing, through oppression and coercion, [excluding] “With Imran Khan sahib’s party, the democratic system is being destroyed,” he said.
The KP chief minister also alleged that the Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister was not responding to his calls.
“This attitude is undemocratic and non-political. We will not allow Britain to become a no-go zone,” he said, adding that the “hospitable” people of Gilgit-Baltistan will avenge this disgrace of their guests through their votes.
