ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), which has been barred from taking part in the upcoming general elections in the light of the recent Supreme Court of Pakistan’s verdict on its intra-party polls, has issued a ‘list of its candidates’.
As per the Supreme Court judgement ‘upheld’ the earlier order of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) with reference to its intra-party elections, held on December 2, 2023, the party could not qualify for an election symbol, a pre-requisite to contest elections and field its candidates.
Accordingly, the ECP withheld ‘bat’ its election symbol and as a consequent to that, PTI-backed candidates were issued symbols in the capacity of independents. The party will not be able to secure reserved seats in the legislatures for not having been allotted an election symbol, being the basic requirement to take part in elections as a party.
Understandably, Section 66 of the Elections Act, 2017 clearly states, “Candidate to file certificate of party affiliation— A contesting candidate, before seeking allotment of a prescribed symbol, shall file a declaration before the Returning Officer about his affiliation with a particular political party, if any, along with a certificate from the political party showing that he is that party’s candidate from the constituency”. The lists of candidates furnished by PTI don’t fall within the ambit of this law.
Likewise, Section 67 further elaborates, “A candidate nominated by a political party at an election in any constituency shall be allotted the symbol allocated by the Commission to that political party under the provisions of Chapter XII and no other symbol. A candidate not nominated by any political party (hereinafter called as ‘independent candidate’) shall choose and shall be allotted one of the symbols not allocated to any political party, in the following manner— (a) where a symbol has been chosen by only one independent candidate, that symbol shall be allotted to that candidate and to no one else”. Accordingly, all such candidates have been issued different symbols.
Despite having no legal locus standi, PTI has released the ‘final lists of its candidates’ to run for the constituencies of the National Assembly and four provincial assemblies.
Interestingly, these lists, shared with the media, carry signatures of senior party leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, as the party’s chairman, whereas as per the law, he is no more chairman of the party in the backdrop of the apex court judgement and the Elections Act, 2017.
These lists of candidates for the National Assembly and provincial assemblies bear date January 17, 2024.
In a related development, PTI announced to hold its second virtual public meeting on Saturday (January 20, 2024) at 7:00 PM.
According to the Central Media Department of the party, ‘PTI Chairman’ Barrister Gohar Khan, ‘Secretary General’ Omar Ayub Khan and Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan along with other party leaders and office-bearers would address the public rally.
A statement, issued by the party, said people could take part in PTI’s virtual rally through all social media platforms.
PTI’s ‘list of candidates for the National Assembly includes, advocates, retired senior military officers and former members of federal and provincial cabinets of PTI-led governments.
Some of the former ministers are: Ali Amin Gandapur is contesting from DIK, Ali Muhammad Khan from Mardan, Shehryar Afridi from Kohat, Zartaj Gul from DIK, Omar Ayub from Haripur and Dr Yasmin Rashid from Lahore.
Former federal minister Murad Saeed, who was included in the earlier list of candidates from Swat, is missing from the final list. Former NA speaker is contesting from NA-19, Swabi. Former PTI chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has been fielded from NA-10, Buner.
Senior lawyers Latif Khosa and Salman Akram Raja are contesting from Lahore. Lal Chand Malhi is the only non-Muslim candidate vying for an NA general seat from NA-213, Umerkot.
Though there is no female candidate contesting from Balochistan, there are several of them fielded from other three provinces including Shandana Gulzar, Nazish Bhatti, Mehrun Nisa, Aliya Hamza, Mrs. Rashida Tariq, Mobeen Khalid, Naheed Khawar, Mrs. Amber Majeed Niazi, Kanwal Shauzab, Sabeen Safdar, Ayesha Nazar, Iffat Soomro, Mehar Bano Qureshi and Rehana Abbas.
Major ® Tahir Sadiq has been fielded from NA-49 and his daughter Eman Tahir from NA-50, Attock. Media person Ayaz Amir is contesting from Chakwal. There are at least six constituencies where the ‘party was unable to decide candidates’.
Brig Rahat Amanullah, Brig Ejaz Shah, Col. Ajmal Sabir and Major Latasab Satti are among the candidates with military background, vying for the NA general seats.
Similarly, in the provincial assemblies’ constituencies of three provinces, namely Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh, persons from diverse shades have been fielded, including former provincial ministers, ex-MPAs, former military officers and advocates.
The party has not been able to decide names of its candidates for some constituencies of the three provinces.
