RAWALPINDI: Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has voiced concerns that the Imran-led party’s decision to run without a symbol in the general elections on February 8 may lead to further horse-trading.
Days before the general elections, the PTI lost its legal struggle last Saturday when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), taking away the party’s “bat” symbol.
The party, which gained prominence in 2018, accused election officials of robbing it of hundreds of reserved seats by taking away its electoral emblem, or “bat,” when it lost its sign.
Speaking to reporters in Rawalpindi on Monday, the politician expressed hope that even PTI-backed candidates would continue to vote in accordance with party directives after the next legislatures are formed.In an effort to obtain “justice,” the PTI has announced that it will also file a review petition challenging the ruling of the top court, claiming it “deprived nationals of their due rights and dented democracy.”
Leaders, employees, and candidates of the PTI shouldn’t give up.
Gohar, however, made it clear that his party would plan its approach in accordance with the ruling of the highest court.
“PTI leaders, workers, and candidates should not to get disappointed and stay peaceful besides expediting efforts to protect their votes,” the former chairman of the PTI stated.
The politician also declared that within the next three days, the list of party-backed candidates and their symbols would be made public on the official website and other social media accounts to aid voters. This was announced prior to the party’s intra-party poll being declared void. The politician was elected as the PTI chairman.
In an attempt to stop horse trading, a journalist inquired about the PTI’s anticipated partnership with Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) and his meeting with Allama Raja Nasir Abbas, the chairman of the religio-political party. Gohar declined to meet with the head of MWM in any capacity.
In response, he stated that while the party hoped for Imran Khan’s early release from prison, the case number for the hearing has not yet been assigned.
In response to a follow-up inquiry concerning the raid at his residence, Barrister Gohar stated that the Inspector General (IG) of Islamabad had promised to hold accountable the accountable officials and that certain police officers had also been suspended. He said that the investigation was still ongoing and that a final report was about to be made public.
He declared that as there has been prior persecution of PTI leaders, these acts must end immediately.
Meanwhile, PTI central leader Sher Afzal Marwat said that “pre-poll rigging has been started by forcing our candidates to contest general elections independently” in a speech to the District Bar in Hyderabad.
Speaking out against the Supreme Court’s decision, he declared, “Akbar S. Babar wanted to be called as a founding member of the PTI.
