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The Election Commission of Pakistan rejected Imran Khan’s nomination to run in two constituencies for the 2024 national elections.
Mr. Khan, according to election commission officials and the media staff of the former prime minister, submitted nomination papers to run for office in Lahore and his native Mianwali.
Khan’s candidacy was unsuccessful in Lahore on account of his ineligibility to vote in the constituency and his prior conviction, which rendered him ineligible to participate in the elections.
Imran Khan has been imprisoned since August, when he was sentenced to three years in prison for unlawfully peddling state gifts, with the assertion that the allegations leveled against the influential leader were substantiated. In addition, the Islamabad trial court imposed a five-year disqualification from politics and a prohibition on his political activities.
Imran Khan is confronted with over 170 legal cases, which encompass a variety of offenses such as terrorism, incitement to violence, and contempt of court.
The upcoming elections will appoint a new five-year government in Pakistan, which will be entrusted with the critical task of renewing the country’s economy. An imminent default threatened the nation earlier this year, compelling the International Monetary Fund to provide a $3 billion rescue.
In addition, the elections seek to end the political instability that has pervaded Pakistan since Mr. Khan was ousted last year via a parliamentary no-confidence motion.
Imran Khan submitted nomination papers regardless of his disqualification, asserting that he was a target of the military.
The election commission also rejected nominations from additional senior members of the former prime minister’s party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Nawaz Sharif, an additional former prime minister, was nominated, and his candidacy was sustained pending a hearing regarding a life prohibition from public office.
In the upcoming elections, Mr. Sharif, who has returned from exile, will vie for a fourth term as premier and will face a formidable challenge in the form of Imran Khan for his support base.
The rejection, according to Mr. Khan’s attorney, Azhar Siddique, exposed the election commission’s partiality. He attributed his disqualification to “invisible forces” and the commission. Rai Muhammad Ali, an additional legal representative of Khan, characterized the denial of his documents as an inequity towards Pakistan.
We desire elections to be transparent, as Mr. Ali stated. “By creating these circumstances on purpose, one is attempting to evade the election.” All of them are terrified. They will not be permitted to flee.
