Bhimber, AJK (Pakistan-administered Kashmir: Former Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and President of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) AJK, Sardar Abdul Qayyum Khan Niazi, was arrested in Bhimber on Saturday, intensifying the already fragile political atmosphere in the region.
According to local sources, Niazi was taken into custody while on his way from Samahni to Bhimber, where he was scheduled to lead rallies and attend political conventions. Witnesses say his arrest came under direct orders from AJK’s current Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, whose home district is Bhimber.
Eyewitnesses reported that a heavy police contingent intercepted Niazi’s convoy near Samahni Jandi Chontra, and swiftly moved him to Mirpur. Local political activists described the scene as “harassment of a senior politician under the presence of an overwhelming police force.”
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In Bhimber, Niazi was scheduled to address PTI’s district convention. “The timing of the arrest was designed to suppress political mobilization,” one activist alleged, speaking to Kashmir Digital on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns.
Sardar Abdul Qayyum Niazi is facing over 11 cases registered against him in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and other cities. Warrants had already been issued two days before his arrest, particularly linked to the events of May 9, when widespread protests shook Pakistan after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
An anti-terrorism court in Islamabad had also ordered his arrest in connection with those cases. Following Saturday’s detention, officials confirmed he will likely be handed over to Islamabad police.
The arrest has triggered immediate protests in parts of Azad Kashmir. In Hajira, demonstrators blocked the Siraari Chowk for hours, raising slogans against what they termed “politically motivated actions.” Police later moved in to disperse the crowds, but tensions remain high.
Observers note that these developments are further evidence of how Pakistan’s internal political struggles are spilling over into Azad Kashmir. “The same politicians who came to power on Imran Khan’s ticket are now orchestrating arrests of PTI leaders in Kashmir. It shows the depth of opportunism in our politics,” a political commentator from Muzaffarabad told Kashmir Digital.
Analysts argue that the arrest of Niazi highlights how Kashmir’s fragile democratic space is being shaped and often destabilized by power struggles in Pakistan. While pro-Kashmir voices call for a politics centered on self-determination and local accountability, the prevailing trend suggests that Islamabad’s political battles continue to dominate the discourse in Azad Kashmir.
“This is not about justice or rule of law. It’s about who controls the narrative,” said one Kashmiri rights advocate, speaking anonymously. “Such actions silence independent voices and weaken the idea of an autonomous Kashmiri political identity.”
With PTI having announced nationwide protests for August 5 — a symbolic date for Kashmir — Niazi was expected to lead demonstrations in AJK. His arrest not only prevents him from doing so but also signals the possibility of more arrests of political leaders in the coming days.
For many in Azad Kashmir, the developments are another reminder of how local aspirations are overshadowed by Pakistan’s divisive power politics. Whether this crackdown will further alienate Kashmiri voters or consolidate control for the current government remains to be seen.
