Large Number of Workers and Supporters Attend Political Consultation Meeting; Participants Endorse Boycott Decision and Give Sain Zulfiqar Mandate to Take the Final Decision
ISLAMGARH (Correspondent): An important political consultation meeting regarding the current political situation and the boycott of the Azad Kashmir elections was held at the residence of Sain Zulfiqar Ali Chaudhry, President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Mirpur District, in Kanili. A large number of workers, supporters, and local elders attended the meeting.
The participants unanimously appreciated the decision to boycott the elections and gave Sain Zulfiqar Ali Chaudhry a complete mandate, stating that whatever decision he made in this regard would be final and acceptable to them. The participants said that, given the current situation in Kashmir, boycotting the elections was the most appropriate and wise decision.
Addressing the meeting, PTI Mirpur District President Sain Zulfiqar Ali Chaudhry said that he had contested elections from the Chakswari constituency three times, and the people had fully supported him on every occasion, which was a clear example of their trust in him. He said that in the past, people would come at their own expense solely to vote for Sain Zulfiqar, while this time PTI had awarded him an election ticket from Mirpur city.
He said that, due to the unfortunate situation in Rawalakot, PTI had decided not to participate in elections where a peaceful environment was not available. He added that he and all party workers apologized to those colleagues who could not be informed about the meeting.
Sain Zulfiqar Ali Chaudhry demanded that the elections be postponed in view of the prevailing circumstances. He said that politically conscious and capable people had also decided to boycott the elections because elections held in such an environment were not in the public interest.
Criticizing former public representatives, he said that in the past, members of the assembly had continued to tell the public to pay their electricity bills, whereas the common people had managed to get electricity prices reduced through their own struggle. He said that people should cast their votes for candidates who understand the problems and suffering of the poor.
Sain Zulfiqar Ali Chaudhry said that the public should also assess what the candidates contesting the elections had done for their respective areas. He said that the water problem still existed in Malot, while areas such as Mowah and Kanili continued to suffer from severe underdevelopment. In such circumstances, creating further chaos was not in the public interest.
He prayed for the safety of the people of Rawalakot and all institutions, saying that Allah Almighty should protect everyone. He further said that if the party leadership decided in the future to withdraw the boycott decision, a strategy would be adopted according to the new instructions. He urged workers to wait and not make any individual decisions, as personal decisions would not represent the party policy.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the participants once again expressed their strong support for the decision to boycott the elections and reaffirmed their resolve to remain united behind the future decisions of the party leadership.