Islamabad : Dec 2023: Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) has been literally thrown out of electoral process as the Returning Officers (ROs) rejected nomination papers of entire first tier leadership of the party . From Bajour to Karachi and from Karachi to Quetta every PTI candidate and party leader has come under ECP axe and nomination papers of each one of them have been rejected for one reason or another. Those who faced apparent ECP’s partisan decisions during scrutiny of the nomination papers included PTI founding chairman , Imran Khan . His nomination papers have been rejected for NA 122 Lahore and his home constituency in Minawali. PTI vice chairman , Shah Mahmood Qureshi ‘s entire family has been thrown out of electoral process. The nomination papers of Shah Mahmood Qureahi , his son Zain Qureshi and daughter Mahar Bano have been rejected by the RO for NA 151 Multan. The RO also rejected nomination papers of Shah Mahmood Qureahi and Zain Qureahi for NA 214 Thurparkar , Sindh. Likewise Chaudhary Pervez Elahi , his son -Moonis Elahi and Qaisra Elahi , were thrown out of the electrical process.
In Quetta the RO rejected nomination papers of ex Deputy Speaker National Assembly , Qasim Suri . Shaheryar Afridi and Ali Mohammad Khan ,both member of Imran Khan ‘s cabinet and diehard PTI workers , may not get a chance to run for the elections as ROs of their respective constituencies rejected their nomination papers .Ex – Speaker National Assembly , Fahmida Mirza , Zulfiqar Mirza and two sons’ nomination papers for NA 223 Badin have been rejected. Those whose nomination papers have been rejected can file appeals against the RO decision till January 3. The court will decide the appeals by January 10.
PTI’s Dr Yasmin Rashid faced the same fate . Her nomination papers have been rejected for NA 130. The Returning Officer (RO) accepted nomination papers of PMLN supremo , Mian Nawaz Sharif , from the same constituency –NA 130 Lahore .
Ex National Assembly speaker , Asad Qaiser ‘s nomination papers have also been rejected . Zulfiqar Bukhari ‘s nomination papers were also rejected He wanted to contest National Assembly elections from NA 50 Attock . Usman Dar ‘s mother and Babhi also came under ECP’s axe. Atif Khan who was a minister in Khyber Pukhtunkhaw (KPK) also faced ECP axe His nomination papers were rejected also. He had filed nomination papers for KP 59.
The nomination papers of Khurram Latif Khosa , son of renowned lawyer, were rejected by the RO..Latif Khosa is also counsel of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) founding chairman ,Imran Khan , in many cases. Latif Khosa had joined PTI after parting ways with Pakistan People Party (PPP).
From NA 23 Mardan , nomination papers of PTI candidate Shoab Khan’s were rejected . PTI’s Shafi Jan’s nomination papers have been rejected for PK 92.
The nomination papers of PTI’s Aftab Khan have been rejected by RO PK 90. The nomination papers of Hamad Azhar , Azam Swati and many other PTI loyalists were rejected by the RO on one context or other .
Sardar Akhtar Mengal ‘s nomination papers were rejected by the RO on the context that BAMMP chief holds an “Aqana’. The nomination papers of Shaikh Rashid and his nephew –Rashid Shafique — were also rejected by the RO for NA 57 Rawalpindi. The nomination papers of Fawad Chaudhary and his spouse, Hiba Chaudhary, were also rejected for NA 61 Jehlum -II. Fawad had disassociated from PTI some two weeks ago. Fawad’s wife Hiba Fawad’s nomination papers were accepted from one NA seat.
The prominent politicians whose nomination papers have been accepted included PPP chief Bilawal Bhutto , His nomination papers form NA 127 have been accepted also, PPP supremo , Asif Zardari . Jamaat-i- Islami chief Sirajul Haq . He is contesting for national assembly seat from NA- 6 Lower Dir. PMLN chief Shahbaz Sharif’s nomination papers were accepted for NA 223 Karachi . Gohar Ali Khan , PTI chairman who stood lucky . His nomination papers have been accepted.
Senate Chairman , Sadiq Sinjrani’s nomination papers for NA 263 and a BP seat have been accepted. The nomination papers of Istehkam Party Pakistan (IPP) chief , Jahangir Tareen, have also been accepted for NA 163.