Shujaat Mir
MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir Digital): Former Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi, calls a protest on February 8, which will also be observed as a Black Day in protest against what he termed as the ‘theft of the people’s mandate’ in Pakistan.
He stated that the people of AJK will also take part in the protest, alongside the masses across Pakistan, who will hit the streets against fascism. The people of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan will also participate in the demonstrations as per the instructions of their leader, Imran Khan, he added.
He asserted that the entire nation is now united in its demand for the return of what he described as a stolen mandate. “On 8th February 2024, the people of Pakistan actively sought out and voted for candidates backed by Imran Khan, even though they were denied their electoral symbols,” he said, “However, through Form 47, a fraudulent government was imposed on the country, turning democracy into a mere joke.”
Speaking to the media after appearing before the Anti-Terrorism Court in Islamabad, the former AJK Prime Minister stated that denying Pakistanis their right to elect their government and keeping popular political leaders behind bars under fabricated cases posed a serious threat to the country’s stability and development.
He reiterated that on 8th February last year, the people had made their decision in favour of PTI and Imran Khan, and accepting this verdict was essential for political stability and national progress. “Depriving people of their fundamental democratic rights through conspiracies and coercion has long been a tactic of certain forces,” he added. “Pakistan cannot achieve political stability until fair and transparent elections are conducted. The country’s economic prosperity depends entirely on its internal stability.”
Protest on February 8 across AJK
Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi stressed that this is not the time to stand by past mistakes, but to learn from them. He pointed out that Pakistan’s constitution grants the right to observe Black Day and protest. He accused the Form 47-installed government of being incompetent and a mere puppet, acting under external influences.
He announced that PTI officials, workers, and organisational bodies will hold protest rallies across all districts of AJK on 8th February. “By joining these demonstrations, people will express solidarity with Imran Khan, PTI, and the stolen public mandate of Pakistan,” he stated.
The former AJK Prime Minister emphasised that Pakistan’s challenges can only be resolved by PTI and its leader, Imran Khan. “All obstacles in the way of Imran Khan’s release are artificially created,” he claimed. “The people of Pakistan fully understand the reality behind these events. On 8th February 2024, the nation rejected all fabricated narratives against Imran Khan and PTI, casting their votes in his favour. However, by manipulating Form 47, the largest political party and its most popular leader were denied their rightful place in governance to satisfy certain egos.”
