PTI to hold countrywide protest against ‘rigging’ on March 2

ISLAMABAD: PTI senior leader Sher Afzal Marwat announced on Tuesday that the party’s founding Chairman Imran Khan had directed a nationwide peaceful protest against the large-scale poll rigging in the February 8 elections on Saturday.

Addressing the media, Sher Afzal Marwat said that during a meeting with Imran Khan, he was entrusted with the responsibility of leading the PTI’s protest in Islamabad on Saturday between 11 and 12 noon. Marwat cautioned that if the nation did not raise its voice against ‘mega polls theft’, then democracy would never flourish in Pakistan.

PTI central leaders Ali Muhammad Khan, Shandana Gulzar Khan, Zain Qureshi, Meher Bano Qureshi, PTI’s candidates from Balochistan including Salar Khan Kakar, Ghaffar Kakar, Sardar Babar Musakhel, Noor Khan Khilji, Sardar Doda Shahwani and Saddam Tareen were present on the occasion.

Ali Muhammad Khan said that the fundamental rights of the people of Pakistan were stolen through large-scale rigging across the country, especially in Balochistan. He stressed that the public should be allowed to exercise its right to choose a government. He said PTI was not against any party or institution but they wanted the public mandate must be respected.

About Maryam Nawaz’s election as the chief minister of Punjab, he said that he had nothing against her and would have congratulated the PMLN leader if she had won her seat through votes.

PTI senior leader Zain Qureshi said, “We stand with our Balochistan brothers because this war is neither for any individual nor for PTI rather this battle is for the mandate of the people of Pakistan.” Shandana Gulzar Khan urged that on Saturday, a peaceful protest should be held against thieves who stole the mandate of the people of Pakistan.

PTI leader from Balochistan Salar Khan Kakar said that ‘large scale election rigging’ was carried out in Balochistan, as seats were sold among the contractors, smugglers and apolitical figures. PTI’s candidate for PB-41 Quetta Ghafar Kakar claimed that a letter warned of consequences if he did not stop the election campaign. PTI’s candidate for PB-39 Quetta Haji Noor Khan claimed that the people of Quetta, like the whole of Pakistan, came out in huge numbers and voted for Imran Khan.

Meanwhile, Omar Ayub said Imran Khan had nominated Amir Dogar for the position of National Assembly speaker while Junaid Khan was picked for the slot of deputy speaker. The announcement was made after Ayub and other party leaders held a string of meetings with the imprisoned PTI chief at the Adiala Jail. Dogar served as the chief whip in the NA during the PTI government. He also served as special assistant to the prime minister on political affairs during Imran’s tenure. Dogar was also among the several PTI leaders who were arrested in the aftermath of the May 9 riots.

Meanwhile, Junaid Khan, Imran’s nominee for the NA deputy speaker, has emerged victorious in the polls from Malakand district. In his media talk, Omar said Junaid was one of the oldest members of PTI and he had proved his allegiance with the party despite challenges.

Separately, PTI leader Asad Qaiser said the PTI will take the “next step” and chalk a way forward. “We have a one-point agenda that whenever elections are held in the country, they should be free and fair,” he said while talking to reporters.

In a related development, the PTI spokesperson dubbed Maryam Nawaz as the ‘fake’ chief minister ‘because she was selected by thieves based on mandate after stealing in the darkness of the night.”