Ahead of Budgam bypolls, Jamaat-e-Islami-backed JDF quits Sajad Lone-led alliance

October 17, 2025 by News Desk

The Justice and Development Front (JDF), backed by the banned Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI), on Thursday announced its decision to withdraw from the Sajad Lone-led People’s Alliance for Change (PAC), citing differences over the coalition’s functioning.

In an official statement, JDF General Secretary Sayar Ahmad Reshi said the party had “decided to exit the People’s Alliance for Change” after certain differences emerged in the alliance’s modus operandi.

“After due reflection, we believe that pursuing an independent course will better serve our vision, values, and principles,” the statement read.

Reshi extended gratitude to the JDF’s former allies and supporters, reaffirming the party’s “unwavering commitment to democratic values, transparency, accountability, and dedicated public service.”

The PAC, which was formed a few months ago in collaboration with Sajad Lone’s People’s Conference (PC) and the People’s Democratic Front (PDF), was seen as an emerging political bloc seeking to reshape post-delimitation politics in Jammu and Kashmir.

The JDF’s exit marks the first visible rift within the newly floated alliance, raising questions about the PAC’s cohesion ahead of future political developments in Jammu Kashmir.