Contest: PTI gears up for AJK polls

Party leaders address corner meetings for LA-37 and LA-30

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s campaign for legislative assembly elections in Azad Kashmir has gained momentum with the party’s top leader addressing corner meetings and political gatherings in Lahore for LA-37 (Valley II) and LA-30 (Jammu).

Sultan Mahmood Chaudhry, PTI’s Azad Kashmir president, has been joined by likes of Aleem Khan and Ejaz Chaudhry in his campaigning for candidates Ghulam Mohyuddin Dewan (LA-37) and Sardar Maqsood Zaman (LA-30)

Polling is scheduled for July 21.

PTI’s chief Imran Khan returned to Lahore early on Sunday morning. He is expected to make appearances in some of the gatherings scheduled in Azad Kashmir.

Addressing a meeting, Dewan said that he was confident about the PTI’s chances. “I believe we can take the seats in Lahore with the support of the people.”

Dewan said that the party would succeed in the upcoming elections in an alliance with the Muslim Conference.

“A vote for the PTI is a vote for change,” said Zaman. “We must ensure Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) defeat in the elections.”

Party leaders have welcomed the deployment of Pakistan Army at polling stations. They said the current turmoil in Kashmir was caused in part by the inefficacy of the parliamentary Kashmir Committee.

Addressing a meeting at the party’s office, Ejaz Chaudhry criticised the government’s policy on the Kashmir dispute. “This policy is in line with the PML-N’s view that we must improve our relations with India.”

He said this had prevented the government from launching an effective international campaign to highlight Indian aggression in Kashmir.

On Sunday, a meeting was organised between Waleed Iqbal, a member of PTI’s political committee, and Dewan to review preparations for the elections.

Participants expressed their resolve to ensure transparent polling, adding that any attempt to sabotage the electoral process would be foiled.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 18^th, 2016.