Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the party founded by Pakistan’s jailed former prime minister Imran Khan, has announced a nationwide protest on March 2, 2024, against alleged rigging in the recent general elections.
Allegations of Rigging
PTI alleges that the February 8, 2024, polls were “not free and fair”. The party’s Secretary General and prime ministerial candidate, Omar Ayub, lamented “large scale” rigging in the polls. “Our seats were stolen with just a stroke of pen. The people gave the mandate to the former PTI chairman. Nation’s mandate and our seats have been attacked,” Ayub said.
PTI’s Plan of Action
PTI plans to stage countrywide protests against the alleged “rigging” in polls alongside other political parties. The party leaders met the PTI founder, who is incarcerated at the prison, and he is “confident” of the party’s stance. The party would protest in courts and assemblies. “Ours is the fight of truth,” Ayub added.
PTI’s Nominations
The PTI leader further stated that the party has nominated Amir Dogar and Junaid Khan for the post of National Assembly speaker and deputy speaker.
Other Parties’ Stance
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) — the second and third largest parties in the polls in terms of numbers — have decided to form the government in the Centre, Punjab, and Balochistan.
A Historic Election
Pakistan staged the biggest election of its history earlier this month, which was extraordinary in various aspects. However, the outcome of the polls did not turn out to be as expected by the political actors as none of them got a simple majority.
Despite dominating the polls results with the highest number of successful candidates in the February 8 general elections, PTI disapproved of the polls results. Maintaining its stance of having the majority, the PTI also alleges that the polls were “not free and fair” and plans to stage countrywide peaceful protests against the alleged rigging.
