ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates were able to successfully submit their nomination papers for the next general elections thanks in large part to the party’s social media campaign.
Having encountered some opposition when the nomination papers were opened for submission on December 20, the PTI candidates made good use of social media. After supporters reported incidents of abuse directed at party candidates, Barrister Gohar Khan, the newly appointed chairman of the party, decided to take legal action.
Seeking a “level playing field” in the polls, the PTI quickly filed a constitutional case in the Supreme Court (SC) with attorney Shoaib Shaheen representing them.
The petition was remarkably expedited for a hearing just one day after it was submitted. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was questioned by the bench, which was chaired by acting Chief Justice Sardar Tariq Masood, for failing to provide the PTI with equal opportunities during the hearing.
As a result, a formal directive was released, instructing the ECP to resolve the complaints of PTI candidates and guarantee an equitable election atmosphere.
In the cypher case, the bench concurrently granted bail to Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the former foreign minister, and Imran Khan, the founder of the PTI. In a separate remark, Justice Athar Minallah stressed that their release on bail throughout the election period will ensure “genuine elections,” enabling people to adequately express their will.
Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa is presently leading the top court, and he is keen to preserve the institution’s reputation in order to prevent charges of political engineering, which happened during the 2018 general elections. The Lahore High Court (LHC) granted the PTI relief after the SC hearing, allowing its candidates to successfully file their nomination papers.
“By the grace of Allah and the active intervention of Justice Ali Baqar Najfi, we were able to file almost 90 percent of nomination cases,” PTI attorney Abuzar Salman Niazi posted on social media to show appreciation for Justice Ali Baqar Najfi’s participation. Niazi promised individuals who were unable to submit nomination papers that the proper measures would be done, even in the face of obstacles from the Punjab police.
The LHC ordered Hassaan Niazi, a PTI lawyer who is currently in custody and is suspected of being involved in an attack on military installations on May 9, to sign his nomination papers.
The continued discussion, however, focuses on why the PTI candidates were granted relief from the LHC, with one attorney highlighting each citizen’s inalienable right to file nomination papers.
Examining the nomination documents will be important in the future. Returning Officers (ROs) will keep an eye on things until December 30. After that, if there are any appeals against the ROs’ rulings, they must be filed with the appellate tribunals.
The PTI candidates expect that their nomination papers would be contested, especially in relation to income and tax records. As a result of these elections, disputes will probably be decided in higher courts, but the SC will still play a big part in the PTI’s strategy.
