Former Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Mayor Junaid Azim Mattu has resigned from the Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party, citing a divergence in his personal convictions from the party’s ideology.
In a heartfelt statement, Mattu expressed his gratitude to the party’s president, Syed Muhammad Altaf Bukhari, and his colleagues, while emphasizing the importance of remaining true to his principles.
“During my Hajj pilgrimage earlier this year, I made a solemn pledge to pursue politics guided by my own principles and a clear sense of right and wrong,” Mattu stated. He noted that extensive consultations with his workers and supporters over the past five days led him to this decision.
Mattu expressed deep respect for Altaf Bukhari, referring to him as an elder brother, but underscored that his own convictions were no longer aligned with the party’s ideology.
He made it clear that continuing to represent the party or contest elections under its banner would be disingenuous. The party is now free to nominate another candidate for the Zadibal constituency in his place.
Mattu plans to address the media in the coming days to further explain his decision and outline his future plans. He concluded his statement by reaffirming his commitment to living a life guided by faith and truth, even in the face of challenges.
He acknowledged the difficulties ahead for his supporters but promised to remain steadfast in his commitment to speaking the truth, drawing inspiration from the teachings of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.