MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Former Prime Minister and President of PTI Azad Kashmir, Sardar Qayyum Niazi, has taken a bold step against four ministers accused of switching loyalties after being elected on PTI tickets. The move aims to uphold party discipline and the constitutional framework in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
According to party sources, Sardar Qayyum Niazi has ordered formal action against ministers Sardar Ali Shan Soni, Javed Butt, Akmal Sargala, and Rafiq Nayyar. These individuals were elected as PTI candidates but later joined other political parties without resigning from PTI or the assembly.
A disqualification reference will be filed against them with the Speaker of the AJK Assembly on 11th Muharram, stating that their shift to other parties without stepping down is a violation of the Constitution. PTI believes that since their seats were won on PTI tickets, their current assembly membership is no longer valid.
Sardar Qayyum Niazi has made it clear that this action is not just about political loyalty, but about protecting democratic principles and maintaining the legitimacy of the legislative process. He emphasized that switching parties without due process harms the integrity of the electoral system.
Earlier, PTI had already expelled 21 dissident members, including the Prime Minister of AJK, for violating party policies. Now, this legal step against the remaining ministers signals Sardar Qayyum Niazi’s commitment to enforcing accountability within the party.
The party’s official statement confirmed that the reference would argue that the assembly seats held by these individuals were directly linked to the PTI platform, and continuing in office after leaving the party is both unconstitutional and unethical.
This move by Sardar Qayyum Niazi is being viewed as a strong message to all elected representatives about the importance of party loyalty and adherence to the constitutional process.
