ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday alleged that its Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president, MNA Junaid Akbar, along with several party legislators and leaders, were “arrested” by the Gilgit-Baltistan government and administration during the party’s election campaign activities ahead of the June 7 general elections in the region.
In a statement released on X, the party claimed that PTI KP President Junaid Akbar, accompanied by MNAs Saleemur Rehman, Amjad Ali Khan, Syed Mehboob Shah, MPA Naeem and Dr Nawaz, was stopped at a check post while returning from Ghizer district and later taken to Gilgit.
The development came as political parties intensified their campaigns for the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan elections.
PTI also shared a video of the alleged arrest on social media, showing Akbar and other leaders sitting inside what appeared to be a van, while a man in police uniform could be seen in the background.
Earlier, Junaid Akbar had written on X that PTI workers and supporters had gathered in Ghizer for a rally on Friday as part of the party’s election campaign.
According to another post by Akbar, he and his companions were initially stopped while traveling to Ghizer where, he said, the district administration informed them that they did not have the required “permission”.
“Isn’t Gilgit-Baltistan part of Pakistan? Why does a Pakistani need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to travel within their own country?” he asked.
“Fascist tactics and panic are a clear declaration of their defeat. If they lack the courage to compete in the field, why stage this election drama? This open violation of constitutional rights and fascism will not be accepted under any circumstances,” he said.
In a subsequent post, he added: “I was told to leave Gilgit as I don’t have an NOC and now I’ve been stopped at the check post again. Isn’t Gilgit-Baltistan part of Pakistan?”
In another post shared from his X account, PTI accused the federal government of using state machinery to “steal the election”.
“Our party’s symbol has been taken from us, we are not allowed to campaign but instead are being arrested… We were stopped in Gilgit, arrested and expelled from the province, while PML-N leaders are given VIP protocol and full security,” the post said.
Former Leader of the National Assembly Opposition Omar Ayub also condemned the alleged detention of PTI leaders.
“Strongly condemn the arrest of PTI Provincial President KPK Junaid Akbar Khan in Hunza, Gilgit-Baltistan. This action proves that the Form 47 installed regime wants a fake ‘selection’ instead of a free and fair election,” he wrote on X.
Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi warned that if the detained parliamentarians were not released, he would personally intervene.
“I will personally go there to question the British puppet government and those working to install a bogus government about the mistreatment of our parliamentarians,” he said in a post on X.
He added that such actions “hurt Pakistan”.
“Such behavior increases hatred and such steps create division. Those whose job it is to protect the public mandate always rob Pakistanis of their mandate.
“By not providing a level playing field in the election and by coercion, through oppression and coercion, [excluding] Imran Khan sahib’s party, the democratic system is being destroyed,” he claimed.
The KP Chief Minister also claimed that the Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister did not respond to his calls.
“This attitude is undemocratic and not political. We will not let GB become a no-go area,” he said, adding that the “inhospitable” people of Gilgit-Baltistan would avenge this dishonor against their guests through their votes.
