PTI nominates PM and CMs, announces protest movement

Barrister Gohar announces nationwide protest demonstrations on Saturday against ‘stolen mandate’

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has put forward its nominations for key political positions, with acting Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan slated for prime minister, Mian Aslam Iqbal for Punjab chief minister, Salar Khan for Balochistan chief minister, and Aqib Ullah Khan for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly speaker.

The announcement follows a meeting at Adiala Jail with PTI founder Imran Khan, according to acting PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan.

Barrister Gohar, while addressing the media outside Adiala Jail, stated that Khan personally nominated the mentioned candidates, and additional announcements regarding nominations for national and provincial assemblies’ speakers and deputy speakers are imminent.

🔴 LIVE | PTI Chairman Gohar Khan Important Media Talk After Meeting with Imran Khan https://t.co/i54QzxQuAL

— PTI (@PTIofficial) February 15, 2024

Asserting the party's commitment to safeguarding the public mandate given to PTI on February 8, Barrister Gohar emphasised their determination to explore all available options to ensure Omar Ayub Khan's election as prime minister, standing in for Imran Khan until his release. In a scenario where forming a government at the Centre is unattainable, Barrister Gohar asserted the party's preference for sitting in the opposition rather than sharing power with rival parties.

Highlighting that PTI had declined power-sharing offers with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Barrister Gohar urged the courts to expedite decisions on over 70 petitions related to election result manipulation. He expressed concern that the party's two-thirds majority is being marginalised, and the alleged theft of PTI's mandate is being handed to those with a significantly smaller seat count.

Barrister Gohar announced the initiation of nationwide protest demonstrations on Saturday against perceived rigging in the general election. He invited all political parties, including Jamaat-e-Islam, Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, Grand Democratic Alliance, Awami National Party, and others, who believe their mandate was stolen, to join the protest for democracy, rule of law, and freedom.

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Senior PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat, speaking on the occasion, revealed that initial considerations of a long march were replaced by Khan's decision for a single, impactful protest. He cautioned the public against potential harassment and false flag operations during the protest, urging massive participation for the future of Pakistan.

Marwat highlighted Khan's concerns about attempts to impose a ‘money-laundering syndicate’ in Pakistan and emphasised the need for political stability for financial stability. He disclosed the party's plan to present evidence of election result manipulation at a detailed presentation to national and international media, scheduled for Friday.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Asad Qaiser has labeled the February 8 elections as the worst in Pakistan's history and called for concerted action against electoral malpractice. Expressing concerns over discrepancies, he emphasised the necessity for legal recourse and urged the Chief Justice of Pakistan to ensure law and order.

Despite challenges, Qaiser reiterated PTI's refusal to accept electoral irregularities and announced plans for a parliamentary party meeting to challenge the election results through democratic means.

The coming days are likely to witness heightened political tensions as PTI mobilises its supporters and engages in nationwide protests against perceived election malpractice.