The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said it has not decided to boycott the upcoming Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections [1, 2].
This clarification comes amid conflicting reports regarding the party's participation in the regional polls, which could significantly influence the political landscape of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) region.
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, the interim chairman of PTI, addressed the reports Wednesday, July 2, 2026 [1, 2]. He said the party had not reached a decision to abstain from the vote [2].
"We reject the reports of PTI boycott of AJK elections," Gohar said [2].
Beyond the election strategy, Gohar addressed the party's relationship with the current administration. He said the party is not engaged in any negotiations with the federal government at this time [1, 3].
"We are not holding talks with the government at the moment," Gohar said [1].
Despite the denial of a boycott, the party indicated that it has not yet finalized its approach to the elections. Party leadership said that conditions are not yet favorable for participation [2]. The party intends to assess its strategy further before making a final determination on whether to field candidates [2].
These statements follow reports from some media outlets, including The Express Tribune, which suggested that the party had already announced it would not participate in the AJK Legislative Assembly elections [3]. However, Gohar's comments in Peshawar sought to correct that narrative [1].
“"We reject the reports of PTI boycott of AJK elections."”
The contradiction between PTI's official statements and early media reports suggests a period of strategic uncertainty for the party. By refusing to commit to either participation or a boycott, PTI maintains political flexibility while signaling to the federal government that it will not enter negotiations without favorable conditions.
