Muzaffarabad, July 2, 2026: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday announced that it would boycott the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, citing what it described as the region’s worsening political and human rights situation.
In a statement, the party said it would not participate in the polls under the prevailing “extraordinary circumstances” and would instead stand with the people of AJK. It said the decision was not a political strategy, but a matter of principled solidarity with the Kashmiri people.
PTI said the boycott would remain in place until normalcy was restored, alleging that Azad Kashmir was currently facing a serious political and humanitarian crisis. It referred to the ongoing sit-in in Rawalakot and said the grievances of the Kashmiri people must be addressed immediately and fairly.
The party alleged that the constitutional identity of Azad Jammu and Kashmir was being undermined, representative voices were being suppressed, political workers were facing arrests and action, and restrictions had been imposed on freedom of expression and the media.
It said the electoral process could not retain its credibility or meaning in such an environment, adding that PTI would rather stand with the Kashmiri people than take part in an election held under such conditions.
The statement called for the issues raised by the Joint Awami Action Committee to be resolved through dialogue and demanded that its concerns be addressed fairly. It also urged authorities to review the election schedule and ensure a free, fair and peaceful electoral environment for all political parties.
The Joint Awami Action Committee was banned by the AJK government under anti-terrorism legislation earlier this month.
PTI said it would not become part of the electoral process unless these conditions were met, while its political struggle for the democratic rights of the Kashmiri people would continue.
The party also announced that all recommendations made by its Parliamentary Board regarding the distribution of election tickets had been suspended with immediate effect. It said no further progress would be made on ticket issuance or other election-related matters until the political environment improved and the party took a future decision.
The general elections in AJK are scheduled to be held on July 27.
