ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates for the upcoming general elections are going to challenge rejection of nomination papers in the respective election tribunals today as Jailed former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan and most of his candidates have been rejected for the February 8 election.
Imran Khan has been in prison since August last year, facing trial over a slew of cases he insists have been planned to prevent him from contesting the election as the figurehead of his PTI. The former cricket star was found guilty of graft earlier last year, but a court suspended his three-year sentence and the conviction is being appealed. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) disqualified him from office over the conviction.
According to the PTI leadership, nomination papers of almost all national and provincial leaders of the PTI, including Imran Khan, have been rejected. PTI spokesman Raoof Hasan said 90 to 95 percent of their candidates’ papers have been rejected.
He said candidates were being blocked as part of an “agenda” to prevent PTI from contesting the election in six weeks. He said all tactics are being tried for this purpose but, under any circumstances, he added, they will not leave the political ground and will not boycott the elections.
Today (Monday) is the first day for filing appeals against the decisions of the returning officers. According to party’s Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan, all rejected nomination papers would be challenged. He said that as per the rules, the rejection of nomination papers would initially be challenged in the tribunals and then other options would be explored. The party has asked all candidates to file appeals against ROs’ decisions, if the situation arises.
‘WhatsApp monitor’
Separately, the PTI also launched a ‘WhatsApp’ account to seek video and pictorial evidence regarding what it sees the pre-poll rigging in the run-up to the elections.
As a part of its strategy to expose poll irregularities at the ‘national and international’ level, the social media team of the PTI asked its supporters to share videos and pictures on its WhatsApp number registered in the United Kingdom.
“If you see or observe any pre-polling rigging in any constituency, please send details with pictures and videos to PTI SMT at the given number,” a message shared on PTI’s social media read.
According to media reports, 3,240 candidates aspiring to contest elections at national and provincial levels had their nomination papers rejected by returning officers (ROs) in the scrutiny process concluded on 30 December.
The ECP sources confirmed that 1,024 candidates, 934 male and 90 female, were denied eligibility to contest National Assembly elections.
Furthermore, 2,216 individuals, 2,081 men and 135 women, failed to secure approval for the provincial assembly race. In total, 3,015 men and 225 women couldn’t obtain ROs’ approval.
The ECP had notified the appointment of 24 judges as appellate tribunals, who would dispose of the appeals.
