Imran Khan, former chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), faced a setback as his nomination papers for a National Assembly constituency in Punjab were rejected. The constituencies in question were NA-122 in Lahore and NA-89 in Mianwali, Khan’s home city. This rejection poses a significant challenge for PTI, already grappling with various legal issues, including cases related to the May 9 riots.
The returning officer, responsible for scrutinizing the nomination papers, cited Khan’s conviction in the Toshakhana case as the basis for rejection. The objections, raised by PML-N’s Mian Naseer, also highlighted discrepancies in the proposer and seconder’s affiliation with NA-122.
Imran Khan faced multiple objections on his NA-89 Mianwali nomination, ranging from the Toshakhana disqualification to allegations of having an illegitimate daughter and defaulting on social security funds. The returning officer concurred with these objections, further complicating PTI’s electoral prospects.
The rejection extended to other PTI leaders, including Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Hammad Azhar, Azam Swati, and Zulfi Bukhari. However, all is not lost as PTI leaders can appeal the decision by January 3, with the Appellate Tribunal set to decide by January 10. The revised list of candidates will be published on January 11.
PTI faces legal and political challenges on various fronts, including the risk of losing its electoral symbol “bat.” Despite a court order restoring the symbol, the Election Commission of Pakistan filed a review petition, potentially leading to further uncertainty for the party.
