- Imran Khan will lead the country from jail if not released: PTI
- The party will nominate contestants from “all constituencies”.
- “Coercion, fascism will not stop us from contesting elections.”
The former ruling party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday announced that it will contest the upcoming general elections from “all constituencies” at both the provincial and national levels.
PTI’s announcement comes after the party’s core committee meeting said it will nominate candidates from every constituency across the country.
Last week, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), following Supreme Court directions, announced that general elections will be held on February 8, 2024 – ending months of ambiguity over the election date.
The apex electoral body announced the election date after consultation with President Arif Alvi on the directions of a three-member bench of the apex court led by CJP Isa while hearing several petitions demanding timely elections within 90 days.
In its statement, the Imran Khan-led party reiterated its zeal and determination to participate in electoral politics and said “coercion and fascism will not be stopped.” [PTI] From contesting elections.
Addressing the imprisonment of former prime minister and party president Imran Khan, the statement said, “The PTI chairman will lead the country after his release.” [from Adiala jail],
“If the Chairman is imprisoned, [then] He will lead the country from jail.”
PTI chief and party vice-president Shah Mehmood Qureshi is currently lodged in Adiala jail in the cipher case.
The ousted prime minister – who was removed from power through a parliamentary vote – granted bail in the Sifar case last week after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) rejected his plea for bail, stay of proceedings and quashing of the First Information Report Had approached the top court making demands. (FIR).
The two were convicted in the cipher case on October 23 – despite filing a petition under CrPC 265-D to stall the prosecution – after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) charged them with misuse of diplomatic cables and misappropriation of secret laws. A case of violation was registered. Conversation between Pakistan’s envoy and US diplomat in Washington.
Last week, the party suffered another major blow when former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser was arrested in a corruption case and sent to Adiala jail, where he was kept in the same jail as Khan and Qureshi.
The PTI meeting also approved issuing a ‘white paper’ to highlight the decisions of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and the caretaker government that have led to the dire economic situation in the country.
“Country and world [at large] Will not accept election interference and rigging,” the party statement stressed on the issue of equal opportunities.
PTI is not the only political party that has complained about the lack of level playing field, but the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has also been vocal about not having a level playing field.
Both parties have accused Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of being given preference.
PTI’s announcement of contesting the elections comes as political parties are gearing up to go into “poll mode” as the election date approaches.
Earlier in the day, three-time former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif – who returned from his four-year exile last month – chaired a meeting in Lahore asking party leaders to begin their preparations for the elections. Instructed. ,
