Despite a fresh crackdown resulting in dozens of potential candidates being rounded up, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) remains resolute in its determination to participate in the upcoming polls. The party's founder, Imran Khan, is set to contest elections from three National Assembly constituencies.
"Imran will contest elections from Lahore, Mianwali, and Islamabad. He will receive nomination papers on Thursday (today)," PTI Chairman Ali Gohar Khan told reporters on Wednesday.
Gohar disclosed ongoing discussions with the party founder concerning the allocation of tickets. "Preference will be given to candidates who have made sacrifices for the party. The ticket allocation process will soon be finalized," he added.
Expressing concern, Gohar mentioned a recent surge in raids targeting PTI candidates and ticket-holders. "Nomination papers are being seized from our candidates," he lamented.
He cited the instance where the nomination papers of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi were confiscated from his secretary in Adiala Jail. "Even carrying plain paper to the jail is prohibited," Gohar added.
"We strongly advocate for free and fair elections. If nomination papers are forcibly taken from our candidates, the notion of transparent elections will be jeopardized. These undemocratic tactics will cast a shadow over the entire electoral process," he emphasized. Gohar further stated that the party intends to challenge these undemocratic practices in courts.
The PTI chairman clarified that the party does not support the demand for Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja's resignation. "However, we expect the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to ensure fair and transparent elections," he added.
Gohar urged Chief Justice of Pakistan Qazi Faez Isa to intervene to prevent violations of people's rights and urged citizens to vote in the February 8 elections. He reiterated the PTI's commitment to ensuring the public's right to vote freely.
"The PTI is ready to counter the 41-party alliance using the power of the vote. As the country's largest political party, the 'bat' remains the electoral symbol for millions of Pakistanis," he affirmed.
Crackdown against PTI
Rawalpindi Police on Wednesday obtained arrest warrants for 63 existing and former leaders of the PTI who were allegedly involved in May 9 rioting incidents.
The police said they would write letters to all returning officers urging them to reject the nomination papers of the leaders and also to arrest them.
These 63 individuals included Zartaj Gul Wazir, Umar Ayub, Farrukh Habib, Hammad Azhar, Zulfi Bukhari, Zain Qureshi, Usman Dar, Col Ajmal Sabir Raja, Usman Saeed Basra, Ashraf Khan Sohna, Sikandar Zaib, Raja Rashid Hafeez, Arif Abbasi, Malik Taimoor Masood, Wasiq Qayyum, Chaudhry Javed Kausar, Chaudhry Sajid, Ejaz Khan and Samuel Yaqoob.
Police told a special anti-terrorism court that there is a case registered against these individuals at the RA Bazar Police Station under the Pakistan Penal Code and Anti-Terrorism Act and that these people are deliberately hiding to avoid arrest. The court later issued arrest warrants for the accused.
Six of the accused are former MNAs, seven are former MPAs and five are former ministers.
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