PTI to approach top court against rejection of bigwigs' nomination papers

• PTI not to boycott general elections at any cost: Barrister Gohar.
• “Overall 550 candidates from other political parties faced rejection.”
• Imran-Gohar consultations on party tickets likely on January 2, 3.

The Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced approaching the Supreme Court (SC) to challenge the rejection of nomination papers of top party leaders.

Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, who became PTI chairman when intra-party elections were nixed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), has strongly criticised the ‘rejection of nomination papers of 380 PTI candidates’ ahead of the general elections slated for February 8, 2024.

While talking to Geo News programme ‘Naya Pakistan’ on Sunday, he stressed that the former ruling party had already recommended appointing judicial officers to deal with the electoral affairs.

He also claimed that the nomination papers of mostly PTI leaders were rejected by the ECP, whereas, overall 550 candidates from other political parties faced rejection during scrutiny.

The erstwhile PTI chairman admitted that the nomination papers of some candidates were rejected on a technical basis. However, he alleged that an individual who filed an objection to Sanam Javed’s nomination was unaware of the details.

“We will file a petition in the Supreme Court and hope to see the judiciary’s intervention in this matter,” he announced.

Barrister Gohar categorically said that the PTI would not boycott the general elections at any cost.

Regarding party tickets, he said that no consultation was made with incarcerated Imran Khan so far. “I was told by the [Adiala] jail authority to meet the PTI founder on Tuesday and Wednesday. I will consult Imran Khan regarding party tickets in the next meetings.”

Moreover, the former ruling party also claimed that almost 90% of the nomination papers of its important leaders including Imran Khan were rejected, whereas, 100% of the nomination papers of other parties were accepted.

“ROs, police, caretakers and [the] ECP have played the role of facilitators for Nawaz Sharif in the first phase of elections itself. It’s absolutely shameful how the future of 250 mln people is being put in danger just in order to facilitate Nawaz Sharif,” alleged the PTI on its official X handle, formerly Twitter.

A day earlier, the ECP had rejected the nomination papers of several political bigwigs after culminating in the scrutiny stage.

In a major setback for the PTI, the ECP rejected the nomination papers of its incarcerated founder Imran Khan — from NA-122 and NA-89 — along with party's Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s nomination papers from NA-150 and NA-151.

PTI leader and former Punjab health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid’s nomination papers from NA-130 were also rejected by the ECP, whereas Ejaz Chaudhry’s nomination papers failed to secure the ECP’s approval from NA-127.

The party’s nomination papers filed by PTI’s Mohammad Atif Khan (NA-22) and Naeem Haider Panjotha’s — Khan’s counsel— from NA-82, also failed to get approval from the top electoral body.

From NA-44, ECP rejected PTI’s Ali Amin Gandapur’s documents — a decision the politician has announced to challenge in the high court tomorrow.

From PP-172, ECP rejected PTI’s Hammad Azhar’s nomination papers,

Also, PTI founder Khan’s cousin Irfan Ullah Niazi’s nomination papers were rejected by the relevant RO from Bhakkar’s PP-90.

However, the candidates have been given a chance to file appeals against the Returning Officers (ROs).

The third phase of the general elections began today (Sunday) during which appeals can be filed against the returning officers' (ROs) decision to reject or accept the nomination papers of the contesting candidates.