PTI overcomes challenges in nomination papers

LAHORE:

Amid the formidable challenges, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has achieved a significant milestone in the submission of nomination papers for the majority of its candidates set to participate in the upcoming general elections on February 8.

Among the notable party leaders who have successfully submitted their nomination papers are PTI founder Imran Khan, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Zain Qureshi, Mehr Bano Qureshi, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Ali Amin Gandapur, Monis Elahi, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Hammad Azhar, Senator Ejaz Chaudhry, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Sheikh Imtiaz Mehmood, Taimur Malik, Sanam Javed and others.

Aliya Hamza Malik’s nomination papers have also been submitted. She is a PTI candidate and is in prison with Khadija Shah and others.

However, the path for all PTI candidates has been exceptionally challenging, despite the clear directives of the Supreme Court and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Law enforcement agencies have allegedly exhibited questionable behaviour towards PTI candidates, as evident in numerous social media posts where candidates and their legal counsels exposed instances of lawlessness.

These posts included video clips depicting officials in civilian clothes and police uniforms attempting to snatch PTI candidates' nomination papers.

Read also: LHC tells ROs to receive papers of two PTI candidates

Reports of abductions and arrests of PTI candidates and their legal representatives flooded social media platforms nationwide.

The circumstances faced by the nation's largest political party and ECP officials across Punjab have become increasingly challenging due to the high-handedness of law enforcement agencies.

M Abdul Wadood Khan, the district election commissioner of Lahore, has filed a written complaint with the provincial election commissioner, Punjab.

He reported multiple complaints from returning officers in Lahore regarding interference by law enforcement agencies, especially the police department, in their official duties. Khan emphasised the urgency of addressing these complaints to avoid any hindrance in the ongoing election activities.

Simultaneously, various PTI leaders, expressing grievances during the submission of nomination papers, criticised the ECP and caretaker governments for allegedly failing to fulfil their constitutional responsibility of conducting free and fair elections in the country.

Abdullah Warraich, PTI Gujrat District Information Secretary, highlighted that despite court orders, the returning officer of PP-31 refused to accept nomination papers for Chaudhry Saleem Sarwar Joda and Salman Sarwar Joda.

Read: Tension in PTI ranks over state machinery’s 'interference'

He lamented that the police were snatching nomination papers from PTI candidates while the courts appeared helpless.

PTI candidates and their legal representatives from Gujrat also reported a police raid on Zahoor Palace, resulting in the arrest of the consul of PTI Central President Pervaiz Elahi and Moonis Elahi, including advocate Irfan Bashir.

Salman Sarwar, son of PTI Gujrat leader Saleem Sarwar Jora, expressed frustration, stating, "Our lawyers have been attempting to submit nomination papers for my father since December 20, but local administration and police officials are preventing their entry into the RO office. The commission should take notice of this malpractice."

In a post on PTI's official social media handle, it was asserted, "Despite clear powers from Lahore High Court, Lahore police is not allowing the attorney of Hammad Azhar to file nomination papers in NA 129. We are filing a contempt petition in Lahore High Court, and luckily, it's open today. How much will you violate the law and Constitution.”

Another social media post highlighted police officials creating obstacles for PTI candidates while CCTV cameras installed at the site were obscured by cloth in an attempt to conceal the heavy-handed actions of the police officials.

Several candidates also complained that returning officers left their offices during working hours to avoid submitting nomination papers for PTI candidates.