Muhammad Asad
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tahreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is eluding from fatal defeat in Azad Kashmir General Election by taking advantage of Coronavirus Pandemic.
It was said by former Prime Minister and General Secretary Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Raja Pervaiz Ashraf flanked by Opposition leader AJ&K Chaudhry Muhammad Yaseen during a news conference in Islamabad on Saturday.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said that PTI has foreseen its defeat in upcoming general election in the valley and now trying to escape from the election by taking advantage of coronavirus pandemic by using NCOC’s verdict. According to him, it is mandatory to hold elections 60 days prior to the completion of the term of sitting Assembly under the constitution of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K). The current assembly will complete its term by July 29 and before that new election are mandatory.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf noted that if general election in Gilgit Baltistan could be held during coronavirus pandemic then why Azad Kashmir election cannot be held in that environment. He observed that corona is an excuse otherwise Azad Kashmir election is the prime target of all these arrangements. Raja accused the PTI government for attempting to convert the loyalties of the candidates of other parties while taking advantage of proposed postponement of the election.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said that after the deadly earthquake of 2005, the election was held in the valley despite of grave destruction in the region because it is essential under the constitution. He said there is another example of United States election, which was held during the horrific wave of the pandemic in the US. Which other country has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic more than the United States? He said all these tactics are aim at stealing the Azad Kashmir election through horse trading. He noted that people will not accept Lotacracy during the election.
Raja Pervaiz Ashraf accused the government for tempering voter lists of Azad Kashmir’s constituencies to manipulate the election results. While quoting Prime Minister Imran Khan slogans of merit and transparency Raja Pervaiz Ashraf asked the Prime Minister whether it is the merit or transparency for which Prime Minister Imran Khan is claiming. He said that Imran Khan’s party is involved in changing voters lists and trying to evade the elections.
While answering a query, Raja Pervaiz Ashraf said that government is involved in technical rigging to steal the election and its actions are anti- democracy, anti-constitution, and anti-public. Raja Pervaiz claimed that PTI government tactics to postponed election is unacceptable and PPP will run its election campaign on its performance.
Azad Kashmir Opposition leader Muhammad Chaudhry Yaseen said that the NCOC’s letter regarding postponement of Azad Kashmir general election is very surprising as the GB election was held under same circumstances why Azad Kashmir election is being obstructed on pretext of coronavirus pandemic in the country.
While answering a question regarding future government in AJ& K, Chaudhry Yaseen said that PTI government has made the lives of Pakistanis miserable through its anti-public policies and gave nothing to the public except lies and deceits. The people of Azad Kashmir had witnessed all these things and not ready to get into PTI’s trap. Chaudhry Yaseen claimed that PPP Azad Kashmir will contest the election on its performance in the past.
The political environment of Azad Jammu and Kashmir heated up after the recent letter of NCOC addressed to Azad Kashmir Election Commission suggesting postponement of the upcoming general election in the valley for two months so the vaccination drive can be complete in the valley. However, the political rivals of PTI had rushed to oppose the move on different grounds.
