Police arrest PTI leaders in Ghizer, GB election commissioner denies reports

ISLAMABAD: Ghizer police on Friday arrested several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders, including senior party figures, during an election campaign, though the Gilgit-Baltistan election commissioner denied reports of any such action.

Several local media outlets reported that PTI Khyber Pakhtunkhwa president Junaid Akbar, Members of the National Assembly Saleem-ur-Rehman and Syed Mehboob Shah, along with Dr Amjad Ali Khan, MPA Naeem Khan and other local leaders, were taken into custody by Ghizer police.

According to media reports, the detained PTI leaders were later moved out of Ghizer district and sent back towards Gilgit.

Later, Junaid Akbar warned that the party would resort to a complete shutdown across Gilgit-Baltistan if it was barred from running its election campaign.

Addressing party workers in Gilgit after being escorted back, Akbar, ahead of the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections scheduled for June 7, expressed gratitude to supporters for gathering in his favour, saying PTI workers across the region were “fully prepared” for the electoral contest.

He alleged that the administration had informed him that he had been directed by the Election Commission to leave the area, questioning the legal basis of the move.

Akbar warned that if what he described as “assurances” regarding campaign arrangements were violated, PTI would respond with a complete shutdown across Gilgit-Baltistan.

“If these commitments are not honoured, then Inshallah, PTI workers across Gilgit-Baltistan will shut everything down,” he said.

He further stated that he would not continue campaigning under restrictions if other political parties were allowed to operate freely, adding that he would remain near the Gilgit-Baltistan border until his concerns were addressed.

Akbar also challenged the authorities, saying that if leaders of other political parties were allowed to campaign while PTI was restricted, his party would resist such measures.

“If no one else is allowed to campaign, then we will also not campaign. But if the promise is broken, we will respond accordingly,” he warned.

PTI Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram strongly condemned the arrests, saying the move was an attempt to suppress political activity and influence the electoral process.

He urged the National Assembly speaker to intervene immediately and ensure the release of the detained leaders, adding that democracy cannot be silenced through arrests and pressure.

Meanwhile, Gilgit-Baltistan Election Commissioner Raja Shahbaz Khan, talking to HUM News English, denied the reports, saying no such arrests had been made.

“They are our guests and it is against our norms to arrest guests,” Raja Shahbaz said, adding that all political parties had been provided a level playing field to run their election campaign.

When reminded about footage circulating on social media showing the arrests, the election commissioner categorically rejected the claims.

It should be noted that elections for the Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly are scheduled for June 7, while local government elections will be held on June 14.