RAWALPINDI:
Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), announced on Wednesday that Imran Khan, a former prime minister, will run for office from the Islamabad, Lahore, and Mianwali constituencies.
The newly-elected party chairman informed the media after visiting Imran in Adiala jail that tomorrow, Imran would sign the nomination papers. “Even a simple piece of paper was forbidden to me today,” he asserted.
Gohar further claimed that party candidates running in the general election on February 8 were having their nomination papers “snatched” from them.
“The impression of fairness and transparency in the elections would be lost if nomination papers are snatched from people,” the party chairman said, going on to say that the secretary of former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi was deprived of her nomination papers while incarcerated in Adiala.
He insisted, “Elections have been announced and we want the elections to be held on time,” adding that he was pleading with the ECP to guarantee fair and free elections.
“Nawaz Sharif always plays with the umpire,” Barrister Gohar said, referring to the fair playing field that political contestants enjoy. The PTI has maintained its position on the importance of holding polls on schedule, and this time their candidates are not even allowed to access the ground.
Stopping our people will only make the situation worse, and we can’t afford that. We would prefer that things stay calm.
As for the allocation of party tickets, Barrister Gohar informed the media that he is talking with the former PTI chairman. “More time may be required.”
Meanwhile, Barrister Ali Zafar stated that Imran had requested him to communicate certain things to the public on his behalf. “Everywhere you look, bad news is coming,” Barrister Zafar remarked.
“The papers that our candidates submit for nomination are being taken away,” he said, adding that the party would ask the courts to look into the issue.
Claiming that the seizure of nomination documents does not constitute “free and fair elections,” he insisted.
“Only elections would bring stability in the country,” Barrister Zafar stated, adding that the PTI is in agreement with the Supreme Court’s decision to organize the elections.
Additionally, he stated that the party’s refusal to accept the “bat” as its symbol would be detrimental to democracy. In addition, he stressed the need of the ECP quickly settling on a party emblem.
“The verdict of the Toshakhana case would be coming soon,” he informed the journalists. Justice should be ensured by the courts, I hope.
