30.12.2023 19:27
Party cries foul, says decision will be challenged in court.
Election authorities in Pakistan on Saturday rejected the nomination papers of former Prime Minister Imran Khan for the forthcoming polls, his party said.
According to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Khan had submitted papers to contest the Feb. 8 general elections from three constituencies of Lahore, Mianwali and Islamabad.
Khurram Sher Zaman, a party leader, said the 71-year-old former cricket star's nomination papers from Lahore and Mianwali had been rejected.
The PTI said almost 90% of the nomination papers of top leaders, including Khan, were rejected, accusing that state machinery was being used to facilitate rivals including former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who returned from a four-year exile in October.
Condemning the move, party chairman Gauhar Khan said "state machinery is in full swing against PTI's candidates," and asked workers and supporters to "stay steadfast."
It's legal team said it will approach the courts against the decision of returning officers. "Relax everyone, we have already prepared appeals against these bogus decisions of compromised ROs. Will be filed in High Court Tribunals next week," Abuzar Salman Niazi, a PTI lawyer, said on X.
The two former Pakistani premiers submitted their nomination papers, despite being disqualified from contesting polls. Sharif's papers, however, were accepted.
Khan, who is fighting a barrage of legal cases since being removed from office last year, was incarcerated in August in a corruption case in which he was accused of unlawfully selling state gifts. -