PTI names committee for G-B elections

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has constituted a three-member committee to spearhead its preparations for the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly elections, as the party braces for a crucial electoral battle in the region.

According to party sources, the committee was formed on the instructions of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa PTI President and MNA Junaid Akbar Khan. It will be tasked with monitoring, coordination, and overall supervision of the party's election campaign and related activities in Gilgit-Baltistan.

The committee comprises Chief Coordinator Zubair Ahmad Qureshi, Shah Zeb, and Haseeb Ahmad. Its responsibilities include monitoring the election process, maintaining close liaison with district and local party organizations, training teams for result compilation, establishing an effective communication and reporting system, and resolving pre-poll issues.

Meanwhile, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Friday strongly condemned the arrest of Junaid Akbar Khan along with other party parliamentarians in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Speaking to the media, Afridi warned that if the detained leaders were not released immediately, he would personally travel to Gilgit-Baltistan to confront what he termed the "puppet administration" and those allegedly involved in political engineering ahead of the elections.

"The arrest of elected representatives is a blatant attempt to suppress political voices and undermine the democratic process," Afridi said. He added that such coercive measures, political exclusion, and denial of a level playing field erode public trust in institutions.

The Chief Minister emphasized that sustainable political stability could only be achieved through inclusive democratic engagement, respect for political pluralism, and strict adherence to the rule of law. He expressed disappointment over the Gilgit-Baltistan administration's failure to respond to his attempts to contact them regarding the arrests.