PTI candidates running as independents gear up campaign

Party decries harassment of candidates by plainclothes officers

HYDERABAD:

As the upcoming general elections draw near, independent candidates aligned with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) have escalated their campaign efforts.

Extensive banner displays featuring the candidates have adorned the landscape of Latifabad, accompanied by wall chalking at various locations. Meanwhile, the PTI spokesperson has expressed concerns, citing ongoing harassment of their candidates by plainclothes officers.

In specific areas of Latifabad, the election campaign for PTI's nominated candidates, Dr. Mustansar Billah for NA-219, and Rehan Rajput for PS-63, has gained sudden momentum.

Read: PTI ‘needs to follow conciliatory path’

PTI supporters have established election offices for their candidates, displaying banners and conducting wall chalking to garner support. Overnight, a plethora of PTI candidate banners has emerged on central highways, intersections, roads, and neighbourhoods of Latifabad, featuring election symbols and utilizing the signature red and green colours of the PTI flag. Additionally, PTI workers are actively distributing pamphlets and small-sized sticky posters to promote their candidates.

Interestingly, the banners put up by PTI do not explicitly mention Imran Khan's name but prominently display the PTI acronym, adopting the party's distinct red and green colour scheme.

Conversely, the PTI Hyderabad spokesperson has raised concerns about the continued harassment of their candidates by individuals in uniform and plain clothes. Allegedly, on Friday night, individuals in black uniforms attempted to forcefully enter the residence of National Assembly candidate Dr. Mustansar Billah in the Kohsar area. The intruders surrounded the house, beat on the main gate, and damaged CCTV cameras by cutting their wires. Despite no reaction from the occupants, the intruders eventually left.

Similar incidents were reported at the residence of Provincial Assembly candidate Rehan Rajput in Latifabad unit number five. Officials approached the house, knocked on the door, and retreated when it remained unopened. The PTI spokesperson expressed concern over these incidents, emphasizing the need for a fair and secure electoral environment.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 5^th, 2024.