Pre-Poll Rigging Phase 2 – Scrutiny of Nomination Papers
The pre-poll rigging circus in Pakistan is a cringe-worthy spectacle that exposes the Election Commission's shameful descent into the abyss of bias. By callously rejecting nearly 90% of PTI's crucial leaders' nomination papers, including Imran Khan, and generously accepting almost 100% from other parties, the commission has turned the electoral process into a farce.
The despicable act of repeatedly abducting Tehreek-e-Insaf members across the nation, to obstruct them from filing nomination papers and then harassing and abducting their proposers and seconders during the scrutiny phase is a nauseating display of authoritarian tactics.
This isn't safeguarding democracy; it's a travesty where the supposed guardians have become jesters, dancing to the tune of Nawaz Sharif. The sheer audacity of this betrayal, jeopardizing the aspirations of 250 million people, is a slap in the face of democracy. The Election Commission's credibility now lies in tatters, a casualty of its own spineless surrender to political manipulation.
Here are some instances that highlight events during the second phase of pre-poll rigging against PTI during the scrutiny of nomination papers:
December 30, 2023
LAHORE
- Sheikh Imtiaz Ahmad’s proposer, arrested from outside of RO office, in the presence of Barrister Salman Akram Raja.
- Sanam Javed rearrested on another frivolous charge to keep her out of contesting the election.
- Usman Jaura - lawyers abducted during scrutiny of nomination papers.
MANDI BAHAUDDIN
Sajid Bhatti - lawyers, seconders, proposers denied entry to RO office for scrutiny of papers
HAFIZABAD
Shaukat Bhatti – Returning officer remained missing from his office denying candidate scrutiny of his papers.
MIANWALI
Ammara Niazi arrested from outside the returning officer’s office during scrutiny process.
BAHAWALPUR
SamiUllah Chaudry - proposer arrested before scrutiny.
VEHARI
Khalid Nisar Dogar - proposer arrested.
MULTAN
Proposers and seconders of Shah Mahmoud Qureshi, Zain Qureshi and Meher Bano Qureshi were arrested from outside the Returning officer’s office.
BUREWALA
- NA 155 - proposer Nadim Sindhu, of PTI leader Khalid Nisar Dogar arrested from RO’s office.
- Candidate Aisha Nasir Jatt’s proposer and seconder; Shahnaz Qureshi, Tariq Amin Chohan also arrested.
GUJRAT
- Lawyers of Chaudry Pervaiz Elahi family, Amjad Parvez Sahib, Sardar Raziq Sahib and 6 lawyers of Gujarat were kidnapped from inside the RO office along with their documents. Their family wasn’t allowed to enter office for scrutiny. After the lawyers’ abductions, their papers were snatched away too.
- During the scrutiny of nomination papers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate Ali Liaquat Bhader from Constituency PP 33, the Returning Officer locked the doors of his room and abducted the proposers Muhammad Sajjad Bhader and Muhammad Osama Shafi Bhader under his supervision.
MANSEHRA
NA 15 - A large contingent of policemen were deployed looking to block access of Senator Azam Swati’s proposer from scrutiny process.
MUZZAFFARGARH
Papers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf District President Nawabzada Muhammad Ahmad Khan Prospective Candidate #NA176 , Jamshed Ahmad Khan Dasti Candidate #NA175 , Mian Fayyaz Hussain Chhajra Candidate #NA180 and Mian Imran Dhanotar Candidate #PP271 were to be scrutinized, however, the police raided the houses of all the recommenders and supporters of these candidates a night before.
GUJRANWALA
PP 59 - Proposer and seconder of Jamal Nasir Cheema wasarrested from outside of RO office.
BHAKKAR
PP 90 Irfanullah Khan Niazi's proposer and seconder were abducted by unknown persons.
December 29th, 2023
SWAT
Nomination papers were rejected after scrutiny on frivolous charges for Murad Saeed and Fazal Hakeem.
KARACHI
Former MPA and VP PTI Sindh Saeed Afridi faced delays in scrutiny - he repeatedly went to the RO office for NA 246, but the officer refused to do his duty citing ‘his helplessness’.
KHUSHAB
Hasan and Umar Aslam Awan’s nomination papers were rejected after scrutiny on frivolous charges.
BAHAWALPUR
Proposer and Seconder of Kanwal Shauzab, former MPA Punjab’s, house was raided, and her lawyer was abducted.
NANKANA
Rana Jameel’s lawyer stated that he has been abducted from the RO’s office after being called in for attaining his signature the night before.
LAHORE
- Mian Sharafat Ali - Nomination papers were rejected after scrutiny on frivolous charges.
- Umer Dar, PTI leader and son of PTI ticket aspirant Rehana Dar, was abducted during the night.
- NA 179- PTI ticket aspirant Shabbir Qureshi’s cousin Mian Shoaib Qureshi was abducted by the police from his house in Multan at 4 am. They have nothing to do with practical politics and there was no FIR against them.
- Zaheer Khokhar (candidate) - his brother and lawyers were arrested during scrutiny process.
MANDI BAHAUDDIN
- PP 42 Mandi Bahauddin- lawyers, endorsers, proposers arrived for scrutiny of nomination papers of former MPA Chaudhary Sajid Ahmad Khan Bhatti but the local SHO stopped them from entering the RO’s office.
- Seconder and Proposer for Ch. Pervaiz Elahi was also arrested while the RO was absent from his Office.
GUJRAT
- Liaquat Bhadar’s wife’s seconder and proposer were arrested from inside the RO’s office.
- Saleem Sarwar Jaura’s nomination papers were not accepted by the RO despite Court Orders.
MUZAFFARGARH
Shabbir Qureshi’s cousin was kidnapped from his house to blackmail him into withdrawing his nomination papers.
BHAKKAR
Sana Ullah Mastikhel- the proposers and seconders for both his brother and his wife’s documents were arrested from inside the RO office.
MIANWALI
- The proposer and seconder from NA 89 for Chairman PTI, Imran Khan were arrested illegally during scrutiny process.
- NA 112 - RO Rai Zulfiqar called the candidate Rana Jameel Hasan Khan from the official number in the office to sign his nomination papers and when he went to the RO’s office he openly admitted of kidnapping him.
December 28th, 2023
HASILPOOR
PP246 Khalil Bajwa - police conducted raids in shops around the market area to arrest his proposer and seconder and picked up several men.
GUJRAT
Saleem Sarwar Jaura filed a petition of Contempt of Court by ECP for declining Justice Baqir Najfi’s direct orders and using delaying tactics in accepting his nomination papers.
Chaudry Shujaat Ali’s sons would be contesting and seemed to have influenced the RO Gujrat to harass and create obstacles in other candidates’ processes.
BAHAWALPUR
Chaudry Khalil Bajwa - Proposer was arrested by police.
MURREE
Arrests of PTI prospective candidates and their supporters, continued during scrutiny process all day.
LAHORE
- Barrister Moiz Tariq and Rana Maruf came to have their papers scrutinized from the office of DRO Murree as appointed representative of PP-06 by then Major Lehrasab Sati along with his supporter Mudassar Mehmood Sati, both were abducted by the police in public.
- Sheikh Imtiaz Mahmood's team was not allowed inside for scrutiny.
SIALKOT
Saeed Bhalli- his seconder and proposer faced raids to arrest them ahead of scrutiny and the RO officer was later absent from the office at time of process.
MIANWALI
- Shaheed Major General Sanaullah Khan's brother, former DIG Rehmatullah Khan, PP ticket aspirant and his other brother Madad Khan were arrested in Mianwali.
- PP85 - Liaquat Ali Khan, proposer of Abd-ur-Rehman Khan was abducted. He had pre-recorded his testimony that he signed the papers, and they were authentic.
RAHIM YAR KHAN
- RO office saw plenty of activity from Punjab Police all day arresting those who came for scrutiny of their papers. At least 12 people were reported to be arrested; 5 from PP 259 Khanpur, 7 from NA 171 Sadiqabad, 1 from PP263.
- Seconder and Proposer of Hamza Raees and Raees Mahboob were abducted from outside the RO office.
- Rana Nabi Ahmed - proposer and seconder were arrested from inside of RO office.
LODHRAN
Chaudhry Tahir Gujjar Advocate, advocate and supporter of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Akhtar Khan Kanju, was arrested by the police from Dunyapur.
PP 155- Sheikh Imtiaz’s 4 Proposers and Seconders. RO were present in the office of PP 155. Lawyers were not allowed inside. They threatened to arrest his wife. She was previously illegally detained and sexually assaulted while trying to submit her husband's nominated papers as well.
GUJRANWALA
NA77 Mian Tariq Mahmoud’s proposer and seconder arrested from outside the RO office.
ATTOCK
Major Tahir Sadiq: his seconder and proposer faced abductions outside of RO office.
VEHARI
Ejaz Bandedha was implicated in an FIR under a bogus electricity theft case to reject his papers.
KARACHI
NA 245 – former MPA Saeed Afridi had to hide in the RO office as police came calling for him. The policemen tasked for the RO outside and when he returned he had rejected the candidate’s papers upon scrutiny.
Misc.
- Abdullah Mumtaz Kahloon’s nomination papers scrutiny hearing was to be done on the 30th but objections were already filed.
- Mian Maqsood - Seconder and Proposer both arrested during scrutiny at the RO Office.
- Candidate Ghulam Satti along with his seconder and proposer were arrested from outside of the RO office when visiting for scrutiny.
- Proposer of Major (R ) Latasab Satti arrested from outside the RO office.
December 27th, 2023
RAWALPINDI
Vice Chairman PTI, Shah Mahmoud Qureshi, Re arrested in bogus case.
DI KHAN
NA 44 - Muhammad Asif, proposer to Ali Amin Gandapur abducted before presenting himself in the RO’s office.
ATTOCK
- Female proposer and seconder for Shahnaz Khalid arrested and slapped inside RO’s office.
- Proposer Saa’dat Khan Mira’s and seconder Mohammed Ismail for Major Tahir Sadiq abducted.
LAHORE
- Malik Zaheer Khokhar
- Rana Javed
- Malik Jahangir Bara
The proposers and seconders of above candidates were arrested from the RO’s office.
RAHIM YAR KHAN
- In vicinity of PP-263, a huge contingent of police was present during scrutiny process.
- Basharat Hundal’s proposer arrested - later released due to lawyer’s pressure.
PAKPATTAN
Naeem Ibrahim arrested in bogus cases to keep him away from election participation.
MUZZAFARGARH
- Shabbir Qureshi, nominated in new FIR to reject his nomination papers.
- Naeemuddin Warriach - arrested under MPO despite getting bail from High court.
FAISALABAD
- Mahboob Aalam Sandhu’s house was raised to threaten him.
- Khalid Cheema arrested and shifted to unknown location.
KASUR
PTI President Mehr Saleem faced threats and loss of business - one of the college vans he owns was burnt and his petrol pump was fired upon.
NARROWAL
Chaudhry Irfan Abid’s proposer was arrested to deny him from presenting himself to the RO office.
VEHARI
Khalid Dogar - implicated under a bogus electricity theft case to reject his papers.
December 26th, 2023
The legal counsel for Nawaz Sharif against Imran Khan in Tosha Khana case presented himself on behalf of his client to have his nomination papers scrutinized.
Proposer for Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, Mohammad Asif from NA 44 was abducted by unknown men.
DERA GHAZI KHAN
Zartaj Gul’s lawyers were prevented from appearing for scrutiny for her papers - heavy police presence was there to disallow entry to the RO’s office. Simultaneously her lawyer Mehr Fida Hussain was abducted.
LAHORE
- Barrister Salman Akram Raja was blocked by police from entering the RO’s office where he was present for scrutiny for Mian Mahmoud Rasheed’s papers. ‘Concerned officials begged him to understand the coercion they were under.’
- Naeem Abbas Bara’s proposer was arrested by Police.
- Ibad Farooq’s house was raided to threaten and harass him again.
- Abdul Kareem Kalwar PP 166 - proposer and seconder was arrested at scrutiny stage.
- Awaits Bhatti - arrested on the day of scrutiny from the RO’s Office.
ATTOCK
- Shahnaz Khalid and her female seconder and proposer faced obstacles and objections. They were even denied entry in the RO’s office.
- Proposer and Seconder of Zain Ilahi were arrested.
GUJRANWALA
PP 70- Mian Hasan Yousuf - His RO Officer declined to do his job and refused scrutiny of the candidates papers.
MISCELLANEOUS
- Former PTI leader Imtiaz Qureshi’s son, Saim Qureshi was picked up and arrested from Kohat.
- Unknown assailants fired at and threw a hand-made bomb on former MPA PTI, Pir Musawwar Ghazi.
In Summary
The nomination papers of hundreds of PTI candidates from Punjab and KPK provinces were rejected without any valid reasons. For example, PTI senior leader Dr. Yasmin Rashid and Ali Amin Gandapur’s National Assembly papers were rejected although their nomination papers submitted for the Provincial papers went through.
Rejections Tally
- PTI 381
- PPP 41
- PMLN 26
- GDA 7
Some Senior PTI leaders whose nomination papers were rejected;
- Usama MELA
- Adv Shoaib SHAHEEN
- Rehana DAR (mother of Umer Dar)
- Wife of Umer DAR
- Azam SWATI
- Syed Z BUKHARI
- Ali Muhammad KHAN
- Dr. Yasmin RASHID
- Adv Naeem H PANJHUTA
- Shahid KHATAK
- Sanam Javed KHAN
- Ali Amin GANDAPUR
- Qasim Khan SURI
- Hammad AZHAR
- Father of Hammad AZHAR
- Atif KHAN
- Ghufran KHAN - PS 119
- Khaliq ur REHMAN - PK 87, 89, NA 34
- Irfan JILANI - NA 248 Karachi
- Awab ALWI - NA 241 Karachi
- Eman Tahir SADIQ- NA 50 Attock
- Seemabia TAHIR - NA 57
- Muzammil ASLAM - NA 241
- All candidates from KOHAT, MARDAN, SWABI and KARAK
Disclaimer: The information provided includes the count of rejected nomination papers and names of PTI candidates as reported at the time of this compilation. It is noted that most appeals to the Election Tribunal have since led to the reversal of the initial rulings.
Compiled by: Mariya K.