HATTIAN BALA (Kashmir English): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Azad Kashmir has announced that an already scheduled peaceful protest will be held across the state tomorrow, August 5, despite the arrest of former AJK PM and party leader Abdul Qayyum Khan Niazi.
Addressing a press conference today in Hattian Bala, the vice president of PTI AJK Syed Zeeshan Haider said that the protest will be organised in all districts of Azad Kashmir, stating that the arrest of Qayyum Niazi is an attempt to sabotage the August 5 protest.
Earlier on Sunday, the Regional President of PTI was arrested by Mirpur police on his way from Samahani to Bhimber to lead a rally ahead of planned August 5 protests.
Mirpur Police said that the politician was arrested on the orders of the Mirpur deputy commissioner under Section 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) for allegedly disturbing public order.
District Magistrate Mirpur said that the former PM has been placed under house arrest for four days till August 06 at the Industrial Area rest house in Mirpur, which has been declared a sub-jail by the deputy commissioner.
Talking to the media today, Zeeshan Haider strongly condemned the arrest of Sardar Abdul Qayyum, stating the workers of PTI have never been afraid of these low tactics and will never be afraid. “We will take to the streets against oppression, fascism, and political ‘Yazidism’ and record a historic protest.”
He said that if the administration tries to obstruct the protest activities, it will be responded to in a befitting manner, and the full responsibility of its consequences will rest with the Azad Kashmir government.
Haider said that August 5 is not just a date but has become a symbol of resistance against oppression, betrayal, and exploitation.
“On the same day, Narendra Modi amended the Indian Constitution and abolished the special status of occupied Kashmir, and on the same day, the great leader, Imran Khan, was illegally arrested,” he said.
He clarified that the country was pushed into a constitutional and political crisis by overthrowing the Khan’s government under a conspiracy, delaying the elections, canceling the election symbol, and converting the majority party into a minority are examples of the worst political revenge.
“Today, the constitution in the country is paralyzed, the judiciary is a slave, democracy is suspended, and human rights have been severely violated,” he maintained.
Other leaders present at the press conference also expressed their resolve for the protest movement. The participants unanimously announced that on August 5, a collective public voice would be raised against the abrogation of the constitutional status of occupied Kashmir by India and the political arrest of Imran Khan in Pakistan.
