PTI faces setback as Imran Khan’s candidacy papers rejected in Lahore and Mianwali
PTI faces setback as Imran Khan’s candidacy papers rejected in Lahore and Mianwali
Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), encountered a setback as his nomination papers for a National Assembly constituency in Lahore and his hometown, Mianwali, were rejected by officials from the provincial election commission on Saturday.
Before the scheduled polls on February 8, 2024, the former prime minister had submitted his nomination papers for NA-122 in Lahore and NA-89 in Mianwali. In contrast, the papers of Nawaz Sharif, the leader of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), were accepted for NA-130 in Lahore.
This development poses a significant challenge for the PTI, whose leadership is currently grappling with a range of cases, particularly related to the May 9 riots. Several senior leaders, including Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, are currently in detention.
“The PTI founder has been convicted,” stated the returning officer (RO) responsible for scrutinizing the nomination papers of the NA-122 constituency, outlining the basis for the decision and delivering a blow to the PTI’s prospects ahead of the upcoming elections.
The objections, raised by PML-N’s Mian Naseer, pointed to Khan’s five-year disqualification in the Toshakhana case, where he was found guilty of corrupt practices under Section 167 of the Elections Act, 2017.
The objection highlighted that the “PTI founder’s proposer and seconder do not belong from NA-122.”
From the disqualification in the Toshakhana case to allegations of having an illegitimate daughter and defaulting on Rs3.6 million social security funds, multiple objections were lodged against Khan’s nomination papers for NA-89 Mianwali. This constituency, where he has won in previous elections, faced a thorough scrutiny.
In agreement with the objections, the returning officer rejected the former prime minister’s nomination papers.
Separately, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) also turned down PTI Vice Chairman Qureshi’s nomination papers for Multan’s NA-150, NA-151, PP-218, and Tharparkar’s NA-214.
Simultaneously, former federal minister and PTI leader Hammad Azhar faced rejection of nomination papers from PP-172.
However, there is a window for appeal for Khan and his associates. They can contest the rejection of their nomination papers until January 3, and the Appellate Tribunal will make a decision by January 10. The revised list of candidates will be published by the electoral body on January 11.
With the earlier rejection of nomination papers for Azam Swati and Zulfi Bukhari, the party finds itself entangled in legal and political complexities on various fronts. Beyond the widespread issuance of Maintenance of Public Order (3-MPO) notifications, part of a nationwide crackdown linked to the alleged involvement of workers and leaders in the May 9 incidents, the party faces the potential loss of its electoral symbol “bat.”
Earlier today, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) lodged a review petition in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) against its order that had temporarily restored the PTI’s “bat” symbol, which was initially revoked due to irregularities in intra-party polls. Although the court had reinstated the symbol in its ruling, the ECP’s review petition, seeking the case to be reconsidered before a division bench, raises the prospect of the party once again grappling with the absence of an electoral symbol if the court’s earlier decision is overturned.
