In the bustling landscape of Pakistani politics, the fervour of the impending February 2024 general elections has reached a crescendo, as today marks the culmination of the scrutiny period for nomination papers.
Among the lineup of political heavyweights, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding Chairman Imran Khan, president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Shehbaz Sharif, and PPP supremo Bilawal Bhutto’s papers were scrutinised.
With the window for appeals against the acceptance or rejection of nomination papers open until January 3. On the other hand, decisions on these appeals are slated to be unveiled by January 10, adding an extra layer of anticipation to an already charged political atmosphere.
The unveiling of the list of candidates on January 11 will herald a critical moment, allowing candidates a brief window until January 12 to contemplate withdrawal from the electoral race.
In a surprising turn of events, the nomination papers of prominent leaders, including PTI founder chairman Imran Khan and key figures like Shah Mehmood Qureshi, faced rejection by the Election Commission.
The rejection verdict, issued by the returning officer, cited various reasons for the dismissal of Imran Khan’s nomination papers for National Assembly Constituencies NA-122 in Lahore and NA 89 in Mianwali 1. The judgment highlighted discrepancies, such as the candidate’s supporter not belonging to the constituency.
54 PTI candidates move to ECP for level playing field
Similarly, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, along with his sons Zain Qureshi and Mehrabano, witnessed the disapproval of their nomination papers for NA-151 and NA-150. The reasons included alleged forgery in Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s affidavit and signature, a default of Rs 91,000 to the revenue department, and the absence of supporters.
Azam Khan Swati faced the rejection of his nomination papers for NA-15 in Mansehra, while Zulfi Bukhari encountered a similar fate for NA-50 in Attock.
The rejection wave extended to Imran Khan’s cousin, Irfan Khan, from PP-90 in Punjab, citing non-availability of endorsers and attestators. Further disapprovals included Ali Muhammad Khan’s nomination for NA-23, Tufail Anjum’s papers for PK-55 in Mardan, and Hamad Azhar’s from PP-172.
