ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is planning national rallies starting today at 12 p.m. against alleged cheating and “cutting down” of the party’s mandate in the February 8 elections.
Several political parties took to the streets after unofficial election results were released following the general elections, while major parties that won the most seats began efforts to seek allies and form alliances to form the next governments in the Centre and provinces.
Lamenting the results, which saw its affiliated candidates emerge as the largest group by gaining over 90 National Assembly seats, the PTI vowed “peaceful protests” across the country against what it called “record-high rigging” during the recently ended general election.
“The PTI has called for country-wide protests against the unprecedented, massive, brazen rigging in general elections 2024, where PTI’s win of 180 National Assembly seats and a two-thirds majority in the parliament, was cut down to half,” according to a statement issued by the party.
A day earlier, during a press conference in Islamabad, the party showed the relevant Form 45s to highlight the mismatch with Form 47s, stating that “records of rigging were set” in the electoral process.
“The 2024 elections would be remembered in the country’s history due to the scale of rigging,” PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan said, adding that the candidates who were winning according to Form 45 — collected from polling stations in a constituency — were later declared runners-up in Form 47 — the consolidated result of a constituency.
He claimed a significant difference in votes cast for national and provincial assembly seats.
However, the PTI is not the only party that has expressed worries about the February 8 elections; the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), and others have all accused the elections of being rigged.
Meanwhile, ahead of the PTI protests, police issued two danger alerts due to severe threats of terrorism from particular banned groups, according to The News.
With protesters having been properly warned about the alerts and against unlawful assembly in the federal capital, Islamabad Police Inspector General (IG) Dr Akbar Nasir Khan has emphasized that no one will be permitted to assemble or demonstrate in any public area in the federal capital.
Speaking to The News on Friday, the police officer insisted that it would be inaccurate to claim that any party had sought authorization to arrange a protest, and that no group or party would be permitted to hold such rallies.
According to high-level sources, more Punjab Rangers personnel have been asked to deal with any unforeseen events in the city.
According to sources, Police Order 2002 has been implemented in Islamabad, and consequently no activity or gathering would be tolerated without prior approval from the police or administration.
“All [political] parties have been informed of the imposition of Section 144 [in the city],” stated the statement released by the Islamabad police.
