Islamabad : Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) is likely to boycott Azad Jammu Kashmir elections , scheduled for July 27 ,2026.
Sources said PTI leadership can announce boycott of AJ&K elections today ( Thursday) in a few hours time.
PTI political committee is likely to make a formal announcement to this effect. PTI political committee is headed by Chairman , Barrister Gohar Khan , and Salman Akram Raja . It also includes 10 members from AJ&K chapter of the party
PTI is expressing concerns over free campaigning of its ticket-holders for AJ&K elections.
According to NEWSMAN background interviews, PTI ticket-holders are not onboard with their central party leadership for boycott as they want to go into the AJ&K elections and check the party popularity in the velley.
PTI had contested the elections in Gilgit-Baltistan a month ago and its performance had been dissatisfactory. Some political pundits believe despite upset in Gilgit-Baltistan elections, PTI can bounce back in AJ& K elections.
There is a strong feeling among PTI candidates , who are already campaigning on the ground despite all odds, that top party leadership , in particular , with non- political mindset are behind the idea of boycotting AJ&K elections.
PTI is expecting a decision from Supreme Court of Azad Jammu Kashmir over banning it by the AJ&K Election Commission.
In any case , if PTI boycotts AJ&K elections , it will indirectly favour Pakistan People Party (PPP) to gain majority in the elections and form its government there. PMLN will also be its beneficiary.
Talking to this scribe , a PTI leader, who did not want to be named, said ” PTI’s boycott of July 27 elections could be a stage for PPP to win the elections and form its government there again”.
The PTI leader deplored that top party leadership ‘s decision of boycott the elections, if implemented, would be devastating for the party and jailed leaders.
According to another source in the PTI , jailed leaders including former Governor Punjab , Umar Sarfaz Cheema, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, senior party leader , Yasmin Rashid , Chaudhary Ajaz Ahmad , have also rejected the idea of boycotting AJ&K elections and asked the party political committee to go ahead with its original plan to contest elections in AJ&K come what may.