Khawaja Asif Claims PTI Backed PPP Candidates in AJK Elections

Islamabad: Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has claimed that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supported Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) candidates during the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, despite PTI’s announced boycott of the polls.

Speaking to Geo News in Sialkot, Khawaja Asif said he had been observing elections in Kashmir for the past 55 years and noted that voter turnout in urban areas was higher than in previous elections. He added that turnout in the city exceeded 45 percent, attributing the result to his party’s campaign efforts.

The minister also claimed that the PPP last won an election in the city in 1970 and asserted that the party’s public support had since declined.

Khawaja Asif further alleged that PTI had backed PPP candidates in several constituencies and said it appeared that the two parties had worked together in some areas. He did not provide evidence to support the claim.

PTI had officially announced a boycott of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections. Neither PTI nor the PPP had immediately responded publicly to Khawaja Asif’s allegations.