LAHORE – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, apparently most powerful political force in Pakistan, has been facing an existentialist threat for last several months before elections, the party witnessed back-to-back blows. In major development, the nomination papers of Imran Khan, party’s incarcerated founder, have been rejected from National Assembly constituency NA-122 Lahore.
The Election Commission of Pakistan rejected Imran Khan’s nomination to contest the 2024 parliamentary elections, with the former ruling party trading blame on authorities for stopping its candidates from participating in the elections.
Khan, who remained in jail in a graft case since early August, was restricted from politics but former cricketer still filed nomination papers, defying the odds.
As expected, the electoral watchdog trashed Imran Khan’s nomination to run for February 2024 elections, in wake of his conviction, and disqualification.
On Saturday, the Commission shared a list of nominees who were rejected to stand in upcoming polls from Lahore, and Mr Khan’s name was prominent in the list. ECP cited the PTI founder’s conviction by the court of law, and his nomination bid from his hometown Mianwali was also rejected.
Earlier in Dec 2023, the Supreme Court of Pakistan granted Khan bail in cipher case but he remained in jail for over 150 cases.
PTI leader, who was stripped of party chairmanship, blamed the establishment for toppling his ouster. He remained in legal battle with the state since being removed from power in April last year.
