Imran Khan, the founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), who is presently serving a prison sentence, will contest in at least three constituencies in the general elections scheduled for February 8, 2021, the party announced on Wednesday.
Outside the Adiala jail in Rawalpindi, PTI Senator Ali Zafar informed the media that the election schedule had already been released and that the Islamabad High Court (IHC) would soon make public its reserved verdict on Toshakhana.
Imran was found guilty on August 8 of “corrupt practices under Section 167 of the Elections Act, 2017” in the Toshakhana case. As a result, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) barred him from holding any public office for five years.
“We hope the IHC will announce its judgment in the Toshakhana case soon as the election schedule has been issued,” he said. “We want to inform you that Imran Khan will contest elections from at least three constituencies.”
He said the IHC would also rule on PTI’s appeal that sought suspension of the former PM’s conviction in the Toshkhana case.
The PTI senator also encouraged staff members to submit their nomination papers for the upcoming elections, promising that the party would give jailed members preference for election tickets.
The PTI senator said, “Workers who have sacrificed for the party by overcoming challenges and facing cases will receive 100% of the party’s tickets.”
Speaking on the occasion, PTI chief Barrister Gohar said Imran will contest polls from the Lahore, Islamabad and Mianwali constituencies.
Additionally, he disagreed with the demands of the leading legal associations, arguing that his party had not made any demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja.
The jailed party founder will make the ultimate decision about ticket distribution, according to the PTI chairman.
