[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text dp_text_size=”size-4″]Despite recent setbacks, Imran Khan, the founder and former chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), pledged on Wednesday to deliver a significant blow to his political opponents on election day, undeterred by the recent Supreme Court ruling that upheld the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) decision to revoke his party’s iconic “bat” symbol.
The Supreme Court’s verdict, favoring the ECP, resulted in the PTI losing its ‘bat’ symbol just weeks before the upcoming elections. Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa, in the announcement, declared the plea in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) inadmissible, citing that a single case cannot simultaneously proceed in two high courts.
Read more : What Is PTIs Next Strategy After Losing Bat Symbol Before Elections 2024?
The court’s decision highlighted the PTI’s failure to provide evidence of transparent intra-party elections, a prerequisite for all political parties. CJP Isa clarified that the ECP had consistently urged the PTI to conduct its intra-party elections since May 24, 2021, emphasizing that the ECP’s actions were not discriminatory. The order also noted that severe measures had been taken against 13 other political parties.
Consequently, PTI candidates will now run independently with distinct electoral symbols, forfeiting the right to reserved seats for women and minorities.
Addressing the media in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail, Imran Khan remarked on the need for transparency and expressed doubts about the justice system. He called for live broadcasts of proceedings in the prison to inform the public about ongoing events.
Imran Khan alleged that democracy was being undermined in Pakistan according to the ‘London Plan,’ a purported conspiracy to sideline his party and conclude cases against his rival, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Nawaz Sharif.
Questioning the theft of footage from Core Commander House, Islamabad High Court, and the GHQ attack, Imran asserted, “People are not naive; they know who possesses the means to steal the footage. May 9 events were part of The London Plan.”
Imran Khan accused the Election Commission of Pakistan, the police, and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of being part of the London Plan. He expressed concern about kidnappings, torture, and intimidation tactics used against individuals who do not comply.
The former prime minister revealed discussions with General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa had taken place despite the ouster of his government. He proposed free and fair elections as the solution to the country’s problems.
Imran Khan clarified that PTI had never acted against the military, citing instances where PTI did not retaliate even when gunfire was directed at them. He lamented the injustices suffered by some party members and emphasized that speaking against injustice does not equate to being a traitor. He denied threatening the ECP with Article 6.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
