Imran Khan’s social gathering picks new ‘premier’ of Pak-occupied Kashmir, India rejects elections

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s regional president Sardar Tanveer Ilyas was on Monday elected as new “premier” of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in an election boycotted by the Opposition.

Khan nominated Ilyas because the social gathering’s candidate after his hand-picked “premier” Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi resigned on Thursday following a revolt within the ruling social gathering in opposition to him. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) collectively fielded Chaudhry Yasin in opposition to Ilyas.

The united opposition boycotted the session for the election of the prime minister, leaving no candidate within the race in opposition to Ilyas. The PTI chief secured 33 votes in his favour, the Dawn newspaper reported.

Niazi had resigned on Thursday after 25 lawmakers of his social gathering moved a decision of no-confidence movement in opposition to him. His ouster got here days after Khan misplaced a no-confidence vote within the National Assembly, changing into the primary Pakistan prime minister to be eliminated unceremoniously from energy.

Niazi got here to energy final yr after PTI secured 32 seats within the 53-member House.

India had rejected the elections in PoK, saying the “cosmetic exercise” was nothing however an try by Pakistan to “camouflage its illegal occupation”.

READ | India could have ‘entire of Kashmir’ in years to return, says chief of Western Air Command

Reacting strongly on the elections within the PoK, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had stated that Pakistan has “no locus standi on these Indian territories” and it should vacate all Indian areas below its unlawful occupation.

“The so-called elections in Indian territory under the illegal occupation of Pakistan are nothing but an attempt by Pakistan to camouflage its illegal occupation and the material changes undertaken by it in these territories,” he had stated.

“Such an exercise can neither hide the illegal occupation by Pakistan nor the grave human rights violations, exploitation, and denial of freedom to people in these occupied territories,” Bagchi stated.

The ruling social gathering lawmakers had charged Niazi with “loss of the trust of the parliamentary party, failure to highlight Kashmir issue and implement party manifesto in addition to bad governance, nepotism and violation of merit”.

Ilyas is a billionaire and he was favorite for the publish of the prime minister final yr after the PTI received elections. But Khan appointed little-known Niazi, leaving many PTI lawmakers questioning on the selection.

Many observers consider that Ilyas’s wealth is greater than something that has pressured Khan to vary his thoughts after his elimination by a no-confidence vote.

Financial assist of the social gathering’s wealthy leaders could be crucial for PTI to make a come again on the nationwide stage by elections which can be held by the tip of the yr.