Pakistan Elections: Imran Khan Can't Contest As His Nomination Papers Along With "90-95 Per Cent PTI Leaders" Rejected

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party officials announced on Sunday (31 December that former Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan along with the majority of his supporters, have been disqualified as candidates for the election scheduled for 8 February, following the closure of nominations for the ballot.

Since August, Khan has been incarcerated, undergoing trial for a multitude of cases that he adamantly claims were manipulated to hinder him from running in the election as the leader of his PTI.

The ex-cricket celebrity was convicted of corruption earlier this year, however, his three-year sentence was put on hold by a court and the conviction is currently under appeal.

Despite his disqualification from office due to a conviction by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the PTI still submitted nomination papers for Khan last week, The New Indian Express reported.

PTI spokesman, Raoof Hasan, has announced that the nomination papers of nearly all national and provincial PTI leaders, including Imran Khan, have been dismissed. He further stated that 90 to 95 per cent of their candidates' papers have also been rejected.

Hasan informed AFP that there's an "agenda" in place to stop PTI candidates from participating in the election.

He stated that every strategy is being employed towards this goal, but regardless of the situation, they will not abandon their political position and they will not refrain from participating in the elections.

The final roster of candidates participating in the contest is set to be disclosed by the commission on 23 January.

The assertion by PTI that they are already being excluded from the electoral process is expected to result in a series of appeals to the ECP and different courts.

Hasan affirmed their commitment to remain in the elections, stating they would lodge appeals against all these rulings in every constituency. He further emphasised their intent to fully utilise all constitutional, legal, and political avenues available to them.

At the age of 71, Khan was removed from power last year following a disagreement with the influential military leaders of Pakistan who had supported his rise to power in 2018.

He launched an extraordinary resistance campaign against the military regime that has predominantly controlled the country throughout much of its history.

He alleged that they orchestrated his ousting from office through a no-confidence vote, backed by a US-supported conspiracy, and planned an assassination attempt which left him injured.

Following Khan's short-term imprisonment in May, which incited disturbances, PTI has faced a comprehensive clampdown. Key members have been either incarcerated or compelled to exit the party.