“Systematic dismemberment” and “pre-poll rigging” are being directed towards the party of imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan, according to a rights monitor, who cast doubt on the integrity of the forthcoming elections.
Khan and most of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party candidates will not be able to participate in the February 8 election since the electoral commission has rejected their nomination papers, according to PTI.
“The rejections seem systematic in nature,” stated Farhatullah Babar, an officer of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), according to AFP.
“The way scores of nomination papers were rejected is brazen and the reasons given for the rejections were very flimsy,” he stated, noting that there was “no room for doubt that pre-poll rigging is taking place” .
A 71-year-old man named Khan is currently under trial in many charges that he claims were plotted to keep him from running for party leader in the upcoming election. He has been in prison since August.
His disqualification from office stemming from a graft conviction last year was the reason the Electoral Commission of Pakistan (ECP) rejected his nomination.
However, the HRCP claimed to have evidence of “harassment” against other PTI candidates who tried to register for the election.
Babar cautioned that the public might not see the new government as “legitimate” and that there might be a lack of recognition about the election’s fairness once it happens.
“This situation could intensify the existing political uncertainty and, ultimately, contribute to a further erosion of human rights.”
In April 2022, a vote of no confidence in Khan’s leadership led to his removal from office. Khan was a highly regarded former cricket international.
Notable members of PTI have been incarcerated or expelled due to the extensive crackdown that began with Khan’s temporary imprisonment in May, which caused unrest.
Accusations of tampering surrounded the 2018 elections as well, with Babar stating that “the state is perpetrating the same tactics which were employed in 2018’s elections” (this time in favor of Khan).
The final slate of candidates for the election will be announced by ECP in three weeks.
