Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has expressed serious reservations over the elections held in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), claiming that public confidence in the electoral process has significantly declined.
In a statement, the party said that voter turnout at many polling stations appeared to be very low, while many people were participating in protests and demonstrations to raise their demands. According to PTI, this reflects growing public dissatisfaction with the ruling parties.
PTI reiterated that it had already boycotted the elections, arguing that free, fair and transparent polls were not possible under the current circumstances.
The party further stated that when the country's largest political party is absent from the electoral process and a significant portion of the public remains disengaged, the credibility of the elections is inevitably questioned.
PTI also criticized the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), alleging that they are focused on power-sharing while the people of AJK continue to demand their fundamental rights and genuine political representation.
The party concluded that democracy can only be strengthened through transparent elections, equal political opportunities and an environment in which voters are free to exercise their democratic choice. It said elections held without public confidence cannot be regarded as a true reflection of the people's mandate.
