History of Pre-Poll Rigging Over the Last 10 Months
Rigging in elections isn’t limited to the day of the ballot, nor to the hours following the casting of votes. In fact, over the last ten months, several unlawful and unconstitutional tactics have been employed in Pakistan, in order to ensure that the country’s largest and most popular political party is kept out of power through any means possible.
Here are some ways through which this is being done:
Part 1: 14th January 2023 to 8th May 2023
Appointment of Biased Governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
A fifteen-member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker cabinet was announced in Peshawar, in January 2023. Late Muhammad Azam Khan was appointed the caretaker Chief Minister of KP. PTI’s Taimur Jhagra had said of this cabinet: “Sadly, this looks like a PDM cabinet, barring a couple of names…”
Afterwards, politicians from ANP & PMLN and PPP claimed on multiple shows that PDM parties were given a quota of appointment of political workers as the caretaker cabinet.
Meanwhile, in Punjab, an eleven-member caretaker government took oath, under the chief ministership of Mohsin Naqvi. Moonis Elahi had said: "Mohsin Naqvi calls himself a son of Asif Ali Zardari, a partner of Shehbaz Sharif and a relative of the Chaudhrys of Gujrat."
Both these governments came in as caretakers, with the constitutional duty of ensuring elections take place within ninety days of the dissolution of the assemblies and a representative government was set up. Both these governments failed to fulfill their constitutional duty.
Stopping Pre-Election Political Activities, Torture and Murder of Political Workers
There were unlawful raids on workers outside Chairman Imran Khan’s residence at Zaman Park on the 6th and 8th of March, 2023, as workers gathered to set off for a political rally in preparation for elections that were meant to be held in Punjab. A differently-abled young man, a follower of Imran Khan and a political activist, Ali Bilal, fondly known as Zille Shah was abducted, tortured by law enforcement agencies, and murdered. Ironically, FIRs of the murder were registered against his own political party members and then later it was declared an accident.
Several other workers were attacked by teargas, water cannons, sticks, and even fired at, resulting in many being injured and arrested.
Attacks on the Residence of Former Prime Minister and PTI Chairman, Imran Khan
On March 14th, Punjab Police and Rangers (Paramilitary Forces) stormed the area surrounding the Zaman Park residence of Imran Khan, based on an illegal warrant. Despite the fact that Chairman Khan had signed a surety bond that he would appear in court on the 18th, the law enforcement agencies laid siege to Zaman Park for around 21 hours, "After our workers and leadership faced police onslaught since yesterday morning of tear gas, cannons with chemical water, rubber bullets and live bullets this morning, we now have Rangers taking over and are now in direct confrontation with the people," Mr. Khan tweeted.
Then on the 18th of March, after Chairman Imran Khan left for the Islamabad Judicial Complex to appear in court, the Punjab Police resumed their operation at the former prime minister's Zaman Park residence, broke into his house ransacking it, and arrested several party workers, while injuring several.
Imran Khan’s entourage was also attacked outside the court premises that day. Rubber bullets and teargas were fired at his vehicle and at the party workers.
Abduction of PTI, PML -Q Leaders, and Social Media Activists
From the 23rd through the 31st of March, a series of abductions and unlawful arrests took place, targeting not just leaders and activists, but also their family members in a number of cases. Most of those taken into custody were never presented in front of a magistrate.
On 28th April, police broke into PTI’s President, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s residence to arrest him, despite Mr Elahi having pre-arrest bail. The operation lasted around five hours, with an armored vehicle being used to break through the gates of Elhai’s residence. Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi was not home that evening.
Hundreds of Fake Cases Against Imran Khan
Chairman Imran Khan has close to two hundred false cases filed against him by the State, ranging from murder to corruption, to treason to fraudulent marriage. None of these have any legal standing but the former prime minister has had to go from court to court, appealing for up to nineteen bails on a single day.
Delaying Provincial Elections
Constitutionally, elections were to be held in Punjab and the KP within ninety days of the dissolution of the respective assemblies in December. The date for elections was 9th April, but these were delayed because PTI and Imran Khan were certain to win a majority.
Denying Supreme Court Orders
Orders of the Supreme Court to hold elections in Punjab on May 14th were denied by the Election Commission of Pakistan and the Finance Ministry, citing that all provincial as well as national elections would be held together on October 8th.
Not Allowing PTI Permission to Hold Political Rallies in Central Punjab
The PTI had announced their jalsay or election rallies for central Punjab for the 9th and 14th of May, but the provincial government of Punjab refused them permission each time, contrary to PTI’s constitutional right to carry out their election campaigning.
Part 2: Post May 9th
Abduction of Chairman Imran Khan
On 9th May, PTI Chairman, Imran Khan was abducted from the premises of Islamabad High Court precinct, while he was in the biometrics room, awaiting the renewal of pre-arrest bail in 19 of the fake cases against him. This came after he had announced his election campaign. Chief Justice Islamabad High Court, Justice Aamer Farooq declared this abduction legal, a decision that the Supreme Court of Pakistan reversed in the coming days.
Extreme Police Brutality on Protestors
Protests broke out across the country following the violent abduction of former prime minister Imran Khan. Police cracked down brutally on peaceful protestors, with reports of direct firing of live ammunition on unarmed civilians by law enforcement agencies, dragging women protestors across the streets by their hair, police charging on peaceful protestors using batons, firing rubber bullets and teargas.
Reportedly 25 peaceful protesters died by bullet wounds, out of which only 16 deaths were confirmed because of fear of arrest of other family members.
False Flag Operation
Several people wearing street clothes were seen coming out of law enforcement vehicles and joining crowds of unarmed, peaceful protestors. These people urged the protestors to enter and vandalize public property; and set a couple of monuments alight while destroying others.
Eyewitnesses reported that some of the infiltrators were seen to report to others about the number of people present at various locations. Policemen wearing plain clothes were seen breaking public and private vehicles.
It can be seen in videos that PTI Leaders kept asking people to stay peaceful. Same was announced from PTI official accounts.
Thousands Arrested
Over ten thousand workers, supporters and leaders of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf were arrested within a couple of days under false charges of vandalism and arson. This includes a number of women and minors.
Dozens of PTI Leaders Arrested and Abducted
A number of PTI leaders were arrested on bogus charges, and rearrested when granted bail. Several were abducted without warrants, oftentimes not even presented before a magistrate of the law, with relatives and friends left unaware of their whereabouts - the global community terms this as Enforced Disappearances. The United Nations’ “International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances was adopted in 2006. The Convention creates an obligation for States to make the offense of enforced disappearance punishable by appropriate penalties which take into account its extreme seriousness.”
UN - About enforced disappearances.
It is only when the arrested or abducted party leaders hold a press conference or give an interview to state-sanctioned media that they have decided to either leave PTI and join another political party or leave politics altogether that they are set free.
Continuous Imprisonment
All those who refuse to leave PTI are continued to be incarcerated, their bail hearings delayed, or simply re-arrested immediately on another bogus case as soon as bail is granted. We call them “Prisoners of Conscience,” those who refuse to bow down to immense pressure, adhering to their morals and principles.
Chairman PTI, Imran Khan is imprisoned even after two of the cases that he was arrested for have been dismissed by courts. President PTI Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi was abducted as soon as he left court after being granted bail.
Family Members Abducted
When the PTI leader sought by law enforcement is not found, their family members are abducted in their place in order to put pressure and break the politician in question. This was a common practice adopted by the Gestapo in Nazi Germany, and by the IDF in Palestine at present. Omar Awan, Zahoor Mashwani, and Murad Akbar were all victims of this cruel practice.
Voices of Dissent Silenced
Journalists who dare to speak out against the injustice and lawlessness in Pakistan are arrested or abducted. Prominent vlogger and journalist Imran Riaz Khan was a victim of enforced disappearance and was returned home after four months.
Prominent PTI Leaders Abducted
Several prominent leaders of PTI were abducted and there have been reports of them being tortured, coerced, and threatened until they quit the party.
PTI Not Allowed to Hold Worker Conventions
Not only is the party not allowed to hold election rallies, but even refused permission to hold workers conventions, despite orders from High Courts. We saw this practice in Mansehra, Kahna Lahore, Karachi, Bajur, etc. This is after a date for the general election has been announced and all other political parties are free to hold rallies and other political activities.
Banning Imran Khan on Media
Not only is Imran Khan banned from any media appearances, but even his name and image are banned from appearing on any media in Pakistan.
Journalists Banned
Pro-PTI journalists, or those who report the truth, or news from PTI’s perspective are banned from the media. Several journalists and anchors have lost their jobs and some have had to leave the country for fear of their lives. Senior investigative journalist Arshad Sharif (Shaheed) was harassed until he left the country. He was then forced to leave Dubai and eventually murdered in Kenya.
Sentencing Imran Khan
Former Prime Minister and Chairman PTI, Imran Khan was not given a fair trial, with his witnesses not allowed to testify in court, but a speedy, kangaroo court sentenced him without granting him his legal and constitutional rights and hearing his defense.
Illegal Jail Trial
Imran Khan is being denied a public appearance. For this reason, the controversial amendments to a bill are being made an excuse, and his trial was being heard in jail. He is not granted access to his lawyers with privacy, and, it was after many days and several orders from court that his family was allowed visitation.
Despite the High Court’s orders, media is severely restricted at first and then once again completely banned from attending court proceedings.
Open Threats by Pro-Regime Journalists
Pro-regime journalists are openly airing threats that PTI would not be allowed to participate in the upcoming elections. One journalist clearly stated that the only way there will be general elections in the country is if Imran Khan is sentenced and disallowed from running for office.
PTI Candidates and Ticket Holders Harassed
After the election schedule was announced, PTI’s candidates were harassed by state authorities and the bureaucracy when their nomination papers were either not allowed to be submitted or destroyed. Many candidates have their homes raided, ransacked and vandalized; their families harassed.
Election Symbol
With elections in under 50 days at the time of writing this article, the biased Election Commission of Pakistan has yet to allot the traditional election symbol of the cricket bat to PTI, leaving voters unsure of what symbol to stamp on. With an average adult literacy rate of around 50%, which goes as low as under 20% in rural areas, it is imperative for the Pakistani voter to be aware of their chosen party’s electoral symbol.
After the Election Schedule Was Announced
Since the announcement of the election schedule, PTI has borne the brunt of the worst fascism. From members submitting nomination papers being harassed and physically attacked, to in some instances, sexually assaulted. Some PTI members who were nomination hopefuls, and some proposers and seconders were abducted.
Former Chief Minister Punjab, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s wife was attacked in an attempt to snatch his nomination papers. Later in Chakwal, his nomination papers were snatched, and his lawyers were arrested. Meanwhile in their native city of Gujrat, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s son, Moonis Elahi’s nomination papers were also snatched, and his lawyers were arrested.
Major Tahir Sadiq’s wife reported that their house in Attock was raided, and the nomination papers snatched. Several other candidates reported several incidents, as listed in the video below. Many had to wait long hours for the Returning Officers, who either refused to show, or came to the office very late. While waiting, some candidates reported their nomination papers, along with affidavits, and other important documents were seized.
Candidates like Usama Hamza, Akmal Bari, and even PTI’s vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi were arrested in bogus cases. Awais Bhatti was arrested from Lahore on the day scrutiny of his nomination papers was due, as was Naeem Bhatti, Sanaullah Mastikhel, whose proposer, seconder along with his wife’s documents were taken from the Returning Officer’s facility.
Shabbir Qureshi’s cousin was abducted, to coerce him into withdrawing from contesting the election. Zaheer Khokar’s lawyers were abducted from Lahore during the scrutiny of his documents. Rana Jamil was called in for signatures by the RO, and that’s when he was abducted.
The Dar family has been in the news consistently with Usman Dar’s abduction and forced press conference, announcing parting his way from PTI, the sanctity of their house violated again and again, the matron of the family, Mrs. Rehana Dar pulled by her hair, her clothes torn and house vandalized. Now Umar Dar has been abducted from Lahore. The Dar family is contesting elections against PMLN’s Khwaja Asif and thus being pressured to withdraw from the race.
Various PTI members who had their nomination documents submitted had their proposers and seconders abducted. Kanwal Shauzab, president of PTI’s Women’s Wing’s lawyer was arrested so her nomination papers could not be submitted. Video evidence below shows law enforcement officers, some in plain clothes unlawfully arresting PTI members. There are several incidents reported of houses raided and vandalized. Fake cases have also been filed against PTI members who have submitted their nomination documents in order to get their papers rejected.
BUT Despite it all…
Imran Khan and his party retains high popularity amongst the people of Pakistan. Survey after survey, poll after poll illustrate that the people of Pakistan have made up their minds. Their choice, none other than Imran Khan!
Denying the electorate, a fair chance of electing their representatives will trigger a massive destabilization, which is neither in Pakistan’s interest, nor the region’s!
Written by: @ScarletSapphire
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