PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Criticizes AJK Election Process, Says Public Rejected Nawaz Sharif

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan has strongly criticized the electoral process in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), alleging that the elections were unfair and claiming that the Kashmiri people had rejected former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s political ambitions.

Addressing a press conference, Barrister Gohar said Nawaz Sharif had already lost his parliamentary seat in Lahore and was now seeking to become the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir. He claimed that the people of Kashmir could not be influenced through political campaigning or transportation arrangements and had rejected Sharif’s political narrative.

The PTI chairman alleged that the elections in AJK did not reflect democratic standards, claiming they were marred by irregularities. He criticized the phased election schedule, noting that polling was being held in three stages—13 seats on July 27, nine seats on August 2, and 11 seats on August 11—describing the process as unprecedented and inconsistent with democratic norms.

Barrister Gohar said Kashmir is a sensitive issue that should not be politicized, emphasizing that its cause must be protected. He urged the authorities to act responsibly, adding that every Kashmiri is part of Pakistan’s national identity and that the Kashmir issue should not be undermined.

He further blamed the ruling parties and those responsible for the current political and security situation, alleging they had failed in their governance. He also criticized the political situation in Gilgit-Baltistan, claiming that a minister elected on a PTI ticket had been installed in office.

Concluding his remarks, Barrister Gohar said democracy succeeds only when leaders prioritize the interests of the public over political considerations.