RAWALPINDI: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday called for a nationwide protest on March 2 against the alleged rigging of the 2024 general elections, saying other political parties would join it.
In a press conference after meeting PTI founder Imran Khan, General Secretary Omar Ayub, who is also the party’s prime ministerial candidate, bemoaned the “huge” poll rigging.
He said the PTI would stage nationwide protests against poll “manipulation” along with other political parties.
“Our seats were stolen with the stroke of a pen. People gave the mandate to the former PTI chairman. The mandate of the nation and our seats were contested,” Ayub said.
He said the successful PTI-backed candidate had Form 45. Ayub added that party leaders had met the PTI founder, who is lodged in jail, and was “confident” about the party’s stand.
He said the party would protest in courts and assemblies. “Ours is a fight of truth,” he added.
The PTI chairman further said that the party has nominated Amir Dogar and Junaid Khan for the post of National Assembly Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.
Talking to the media outside Adiala Jail, PTI central leader Sher Afzal Marwat also said that party founder Imran had ordered protests across the country on Saturday (March 2).
According to him, the meeting with the former prime minister included discussions on the internal affairs of the party. Marwat further said that the elected PTI members will go to the assembly to take the pledge on February 29.
Additionally, he said Khan would write to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as per the party’s narrative.
Pakistan held the biggest election in its history earlier this month, which was extraordinary in many ways. However, the results of the polls did not go as expected by political actors, as none of them won a simple majority.
The Imran-based PTI dominated the poll results with the highest number of successful candidates in the February 8 general elections, but still did not approve the poll results.
The PTI maintains its stance of having a majority and also claims that the polls were not “free and fair” and plans to hold nationwide peaceful protests against the alleged rigging.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) – the second and third largest parties in the polls in terms of numbers – have decided to form the government in the Centre, Punjab and Balochistan.
