MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Azad Kashmir has decided to approach the Supreme Court of AJK against the Election Commission’s decision regarding the rejection of the party’s registration ahead of the general election in the state.
Yesterday, the Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) rejected the registration application of the regional chapter of PTI, citing violations of Rule 121 of the Election Rules relating to the party’s financial accounts.
In a statement, the opposition party termed the “move unconstitutional and undemocratic” and announced an immediate legal challenge before the higher judiciary.
President PTI’s regional chapter and former Prime Minister Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi has said that the Election Commission’s decision is against all the basic principles of justice and alleged that the move is not only an unconstitutional act but also undemocratic.
Niazi alleged that the decision was part of a deliberate attempt to keep PTI out of the electoral process ahead of the upcoming Azad Kashmir elections.
He said the Election Commission had “played a political game” to exclude PTI from the polls, adding that such actions would make the upcoming elections controversial and raise serious questions about their constitutional and democratic credibility.
“The people of Azad Kashmir and Imran Khan’s supporters should not be worried. We will go to the elections in any case and will not be intimidated by such low tactics,” he said.
‘We will give surprise plus in AJK polls’
Former AJK premier further stated that “just as PTI gave a surprise in the February 8 elections in Pakistan, we will also give a surprise plus in the Azad Kashmir elections.”
He said that PTI Azad Kashmir will continue preparations for the elections in full swing, and the interviews of the candidates will be held as per the schedule. “We will also fight a constitutional and legal battle and will also go to the court of public opinion.”
Niazi further said that the Election Commission’s decision cannot in any way demoralize “Imran Khan’s Tigers,” and we will contest the election even on potatoes, brinjals, carrots, and radishes if needed, and we will defeat the opponents with surprising results.
Moreover, he said that the same political game allegedly witnessed in Pakistan was now being repeated in the “most sensitive region” as well.
“Will such an election have any credibility? Will these elections be able to get any constitutional justification? Is there any such example in the past?” he questioned, adding that excluding any political party from the electoral process is tantamount to making the election controversial.
The former AJK prime minister expressed hope that the higher judiciary would intervene and remove what he called obstacles being created against PTI’s registration process.
