In a major political shift ahead of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) elections, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) suffered a significant blow after its Mirpur Division Vice President, Iftikhar Tayyab, formally defected from the party. Tayyab announced his decision to join the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) during an official joining ceremony held in Muzaffarabad. He was welcomed into the ranks by IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan and the party’s AJK President, Sardar Tanveer Ilyas, who presented him with the traditional party scarf alongside Secretary General Nisar Ansar Abdali.
The timing of the departure has surprised political observers, coming a mere day after the local PTI leadership had formally recommended Tayyab for a party ticket in the upcoming elections. His sudden exit highlights the fluid and volatile political environment in the region, particularly as PTI’s central leadership navigates internal policy decisions. Around the same time, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar indicated to media outlets that the party’s initial stance to boycott the Azad Kashmir election is not entirely absolute and could be reviewed if local political circumstances shift.
According to regional political analysts, Tayyab’s exit and sudden alignment with the IPP is expected to reshape local electoral dynamics considerably. His entry into the IPP heavily bolsters the party’s presence and ground position within the LA-5 Barnala constituency. This strategic realignment is predicted to create a far more competitive, tightly contested race in the district, changing the math for both major political coalitions in the run-up to the polls.
