AJK polls: Imran urges Kashmiris not to vote for 'tried and tested parties'

PTI chairman addresses party's electioneering rallies in Bagh and Muzaffarabad in Azad Kashmir

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan urged on Monday the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) not to vote for the parties “who have already been tried and tested time and again” in the forthcoming general elections.

Do not vote for the parties who've been already tried and tested @ImranKhanPTI #PTIforAJK

— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 18, 2016

“When a country’s ruler and government are corrupt, it can never have a bright future. Corruption in Kashmir will end only after AJK PM is made accountable,” Imran said while addressing a public gathering in Bagh, AJK as part of an election campaign before July 21 polls in the valley.

Corruption can only be eliminated when the accountability begins from the top @ImranKhanPTI #PTIforAJK

— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 18, 2016

Referring to the recent failed coup attempt in Turkey, the PTI leader said had Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif been in power in Ankara, the uprising would have succeeded.

Had Nawaz Sharif been in power in Turkey, uprising would've succeeded there too @ImranKhanPTI #PTIforAJK

— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 18, 2016

“It is our right to protest when Nawaz considers himself above law," he said. “Why Nawaz and Shahbaz did not hold Asif Zardari accountable for corruption... a thief never holds another thief accountable."

Didn't Shahbaz Sharif say, he'll hang Zardari for corruption during GE'13 campaign? But they did not do anything @ImranKhanPTI #PTIforAJK

— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 18, 2016

Criticising the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), the PTI chief said NAB absolved the prime minister of corruption charges despite having Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s testimony against the former.

This NAB absolves Nawaz Sharif of the corruption charges despite having Ishaq Dar's affidavit @ImranKhanPTI #PTIforAJK

— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 18, 2016

“Corruption will never end until or unless you catch the big fish and not small patwaris."

Corruption will never end until or unless you catch big fish @ImranKhanPTI #PTIforAJK

— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 18, 2016

Imran announced his party will form an independent cell for accountability in the AJK to eradicate corruption from the valley.

"We will spend your money on your own welfare."

We'll build an anti-corruption cell particularly for Azar Kashmir @ImranKhanPTI #PTIforAJK

— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 18, 2016

Emphasising the need for autonomy, Imran said his party will introduce local government system in the AJK to facilitate development.

When we'll make govt in AJK, we'll spend your money on your own welfare @ImranKhanPTI #PTIforAJK

— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 18, 2016

Second thing is the local govt system, which PTI will bring in AJK. @ImranKhanPTI #PTIforAJK

— PTI (@PTIofficial) July 18, 2016

Rally in Muzaffarabad

Later in the evening, addressing a political demonstration in Muzaffarabad, Imran Khan said they will raise the issues, troubling Kashmiris, at every relevant forum.

“I urge you to claim victory for yourself [by voting for PTI] on July 21 the way Pakistan’s cricket team won the match at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London,” he said.