Canada: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) AJK leader Raja Qadeer Khan has strongly condemned the arrests of PTI AJK President Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi, Opposition Leader of the Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) Assembly Khawaja Farooq, and several PTI workers by Muzaffarabad police. In a statement, he termed the arrests a blatant attempt to silence the opposition and an attack on democratic values. He said that targeting elected representatives and political workers through unlawful detentions reflects the authoritarian nature of the current AJK regime.
Raja Qadeer Khan stated that PTI was organizing a peaceful protest outside the Muzaffarabad Press Club to mark one year since the rigged general elections of Pakistan. He reiterated that the elections held on February 8, 2024, were completely manipulated and engineered to deprive PTI of its rightful mandate. “The votes cast by the people for PTI were stolen, and today, we are observing a black day to expose this electoral fraud,” he said.
Condemning the police crackdown on protesters, Raja Qadeer Khan asserted that state oppression in AJK cannot deter PTI from its struggle for democratic rights. He stated that police brutality against peaceful demonstrators is unacceptable and violates fundamental rights. He warned that the use of force to suppress political opposition will only strengthen the resolve of the people.
He further criticized the administration of AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq, calling it undemocratic and dictatorial. He said that the government is resorting to repressive tactics, including arbitrary arrests and mistreatment of political opponents, to maintain its illegitimate rule. Such actions, he added, are an assault on democratic principles and must be condemned by all democratic forces.
Raja Qadeer Khan demanded the immediate release of Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi, Khawaja Farooq, and all detained PTI workers. He urged the judiciary and human rights organizations to take notice of the situation and ensure justice. “PTI will not be intimidated by such oppressive measures and will continue its struggle for democracy, the rule of law, and the protection of the people’s mandate,” he concluded.
