Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Qaiser has alleged that he was stopped from reaching Islamabad airport due to road blockades, which caused him to miss a scheduled flight to Skardu.

He stated that he was travelling to the airport to participate in the Gilgit-Baltistan election campaign when he encountered unexpected restrictions on the roads.

Initially, he assumed the closures were part of routine security arrangements, but later he was informed that the restrictions were specifically imposed due to his movement.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad alongside former senator Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar and Senator Fauzia Arshad, Qaiser questioned the fairness of the political environment and claimed that such actions were making the upcoming Gilgit-Baltistan elections controversial.

He further said that other political leaders, including representatives from rival parties, were freely campaigning in the region, while he was prevented from travelling.Qaiser warned that if such practices continue, the credibility and purpose of elections could be undermined.He also criticised the ruling coalition of PML-N and PPP, describing them as politically aligned in practice.Meanwhile, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar supported Qaiser’s concerns and alleged that multiple passengers had missed flights due to road closures.He called for equal rights for all political candidates to campaign freely and urged the need for political dialogue and consensus among parties.Khokhar also argued that if election outcomes are already predetermined, then holding elections would be meaningless.

He emphasised the importance of a new national political charter to ensure democratic stability and reduce political tensions in the country ahead of the Gilgit-Baltistan polls scheduled for June 7.