Aleema Khan, the sister of former Prime Minister Imran Khan disclosed on Wednesday that her brother had once previously, received a message from the then Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa.
The message reportedly offered a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly to Imran’s political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), if he agreed to end the nationwide protest he initiated after his ouster from the Prime Minister’s Office.
PTI USA’s official account on X (former Twitter) posted, “In August 2022, General Bajwa, who was the COAS at the time, asked Imran Khan that if he stops talking about the conspiracy of regime change operation, which overthrew Khan’s government in April 2022, then PTI will be “allowed” to form a majority government in the upcoming elections. However, if Imran Khan doesn’t agree to stay quiet, then PTI will be reduced to only 30 seats.”
Aleema Khan has narrated Imran Khan’s message for his nation:
In August 2022, General Bajwa, who was the COAS at the time, asked Imran Khan that if he stops talking about the conspiracy of regime change operation, which overthrew Khan’s government in April 2022, then PTI will be… pic.twitter.com/WCzjkiqLGV
Imran Khan launched a countrywide protest in April 2023, becoming the first prime minister in Pakistan’s history to be removed through a no-confidence vote.
Despite governing the country for over three-and-a-half years, PTI faced challenges as allies defected, aligning with opposition parties that collectively sought to overthrow the PTI government.
The former PTI chief had previously asserted that the conspiracy against his government originated within Pakistan, a departure from his earlier stance in which he had blamed the United States for his removal.
During a media interaction after meeting Imran Khan at Adiala Jail, Aleema Khan shared the details of the alleged offer. She quoted her brother, saying, “In August 2022, General Bajwa approached me with an offer that if PTI ceased protests against regime change, a two-thirds majority for the party would be ensured in the National Assembly.”
Imran Khan, according to Aleema Khan, expressed his unwavering commitment to principles, stating, “Our parents were born in a slave country; we are free, and I will not bow before anyone except God. We should face death than to accept slavery in a free country.”
Aleema Khan also shed light on the challenges Imran faces in jail. She criticized the lack of an open trial in Adiala Jail, asserting that the cases against Imran Khan lacked substance. She further claimed that new cases are being brought up whenever he secures bail in an old case, suggesting a deliberate effort to keep the former prime minister incarcerated.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has moved the Supreme Court to challenge the recent Peshawar High Court (PHC) verdict that declared void ECP’s ruling of “unconstitutional” intra-party polls and revoking the party’s iconic bat electoral symbol.
The ECP, in its plea submitted to the apex court, asserted that the PHC decision should be declared illegal, citing non-compliance with the Election Act in the conduct of PTI’s intra-party elections.
This move follows a detailed review of the PHC decision, with sources indicating that the electoral body had explored various options during a meeting, ultimately deciding to appeal the ruling in the Supreme Court.
Anchor person Kamran Khan said, “Free and Fair Elections Ball is now in the Supreme Court’s Hands: Unfortunately, the Election Commission of Pakistan is determined to remove the PTI’s election symbol, the Bat. Furthermore, the ECP has not complied with Peshawar High Court’s judgment regarding the PTI’s party certificate on its website.”
Free and Fair Elections Ball is now in the Supreme Court’s Hands: Unfortunately, the Election Commission of Pakistan is determined to remove the PTI’s election symbol, the Bat. Furthermore, the ECP has not complied with Peshawar High Court’s judgment regarding the PTI’s party…
Minutes before the ECP’s plea, the PTI took legal action by filing a contempt of court petition against the ECP. The PTI contended that despite the PHC orders, the ECP had failed to upload the certificate regarding the PTI’s intra-party elections on its website, which the party argued amounted to contempt of court.
X (formerly Twitter) user Muhammad Anas wrote, “Petition of contempt of Court has been filed in Peshawar High Court against the ECP. ECP didn’t notify the Bat as an election symbol of PTI violating the Court orders.”
Petition of contempt of Court has been filed in Peshawar High Court against the ECP. ECP didn’t notify the Bat as a elections symbol of PTI violating the Court orders. pic.twitter.com/zMC7fe0glm
Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja and other ECP members are named as respondents in the PTI’s contempt plea.
In response to the PHC’s decision, PTI’s chief election commissioner, Niazullah Niazi, personally submitted a certified copy of the PHC verdict to the ECP.
The PHC, in its ruling, declared the ECP’s decision of December 22, 2023, as illegal and without jurisdiction, directing the ECP to publish the PTI’s intra-party polls certificate on its website. The court affirmed PTI’s entitlement to the bat symbol under relevant sections of the Election Act 2017 and Election Rules 2017.
The ECP’s challenge in the Supreme Court sets the stage for a legal confrontation, with implications for the PTI’s participation in the upcoming general elections. The time-sensitive nature of the issue adds complexity, as the deadline for Returning Officers to allocate poll symbols to candidates is January 13, posing a challenge in the event of a symbol change.
An election tribunal established at the Lahore High Court (LHC) has validated the returning officer’s (RO) decision to dismiss Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s nomination papers from the NA-122 constituency in Lahore.
The lawyer of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) argued before the tribunal that Imran Khan is not eligible to contest the election and his proposer didn’t reside in the constituency.
Justice Tariq Nadeem of the appellate tribunal announced the decision after hearing all the parties.
On December 30, 2023, Imran Khan’s nomination papers were rejected for National Assembly (NA) seats from Lahore and his home town, Mianwali.
The former prime minister and PTI founder had submitted nomination papers from Lahore’s NA-122 and Mianwali’s NA-89 for the upcoming polls set to take place on February 8, 2024.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Mian Naseer raised objections to Imran Khan’s nomination papers, mentioning that the PTI founder is disqualified for five years in Toshakhana case, and the ECP found him guilty of corrupt practices under Section 167 of the Elections Act, 2017.
After viewing the objections, the RO rejected the nomination papers of the former prime minister.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Ali Zafar has said on Monday that the party will announce the names of its election candidates in the next 24 hours.
While talking to GEO News, Zafar said that the party has issued confirmation notices to 98 per cent of candidates to contest the upcoming polls, set to take place on February 8, 2024.
“The party will decide the remaining two per cent of election candidates very soon. Approval has been given on who will contest elections on which seat. The candidates will be announced today or tomorrow,” said Senator Zafar, adding that the decision will be announced after the Peshawar High Court (PHC) verdict.
The PTI leader also said that a large number of lawyers are going to take part in the upcoming polls on PTI tickets. However, he didn’t mention an exact number.
The polls are just a month away, however, most political parties have yet to decide their election candidates.
Earlier, a source within the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) told The News that it was expected that the party’s top leadership will award final party tickets on Sunday; however, the announcement got postponed due to seat adjustments with multiple political parties and internal disagreements between PML-N leaders.
Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Qazi Faez Isa stated on Monday that the Supreme Court (SC) is not running anyone’s election campaign while hearing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) plea seeking contempt charges against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for allegedly not providing a level-playing field to the party in the upcoming general elections set to take place on February 8, 2024.
PTI lawyer and leader, Sardar Latif Khosa said that party leaders are facing political victimisation, on which CJP Isa responded, “We are the Supreme Court, not the government. We are not running anyone’s campaign.”
A three-member bench, including CJP Isa, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, and Justice Musrat Hilali heard the case.
At the last hearing, the SC issued notices on Wednesday to the Inspector General of Police Punjab (IGP), chief secretary, and advocate general in response to the PTI plea.
Sardar Latif Khosa presented arguments on behalf of party leader Shoaib Shaheen.
Several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) aspirants, along with their allies, re-entered the electoral fray on Thursday following successful appeals against the rejection of their nomination papers by Returning Officers (ROs) during the scrutiny process last week.
The appellate tribunals, responsible for reviewing appeals against ROs’ decisions, swung into action a day after the deadline for filing appeals expired.
Rulings were issued on many appeals, while notices were dispatched to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and other relevant parties for further cases.
Numerous PTI candidates, facing rejection of their nomination papers, took up the challenge against RO decisions. Simultaneously, objections were raised against the acceptance of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif’s papers in Karachi.
According to the election schedule, nomination papers were accepted until December 22, scrutinized by December 30, and the appeal window extended until January 3. The tribunals are expected to conclude all appeals by January 10.
Among those approved by the appellate tribunals are PTI Central Vice President Firdous Shamim Naqvi for NA-236, Karachi, and party ally Sheikh Rashid and his nephew Sheikh Rashid Shafiq for NA 56 and 57, Rawalpindi. Additionally, several other candidates from various parties, including Ijazul Haq and Punjab Assembly Speaker Sabatin Khan, received the green light to contest elections.
Firdous Shamim Naqvi took to Twitter (former X) and wrote, “Jibran, Andaleeb and Shiraz, the team that batted for me to get my nomination cleared by the tribunal. My thanks to all those who prayed for my success. I hope to contest with your support and bat for Pakistan. Inshallah we will all succeed on the 8th of February 24.”
Jibran , Andaleeb and Shiraz, the team that batted for me to get my nomination cleared by the tribunal. My thanks to all those who prayed for my success. I hope to contest with your support and bat for Pakistan. Inshallah we will all succeed on the 8th of February.24.… pic.twitter.com/pHUEkbtXOB
In Rawalpindi, two election tribunals continued hearings on Thursday, deciding a total of 26 appeals—approving 20 and rejecting six. Notably, the tribunals accepted appeals from prominent figures such as PTI founder Imran Khan, former Punjab chief minister Parvez Elahi, and former minister Fawad Chaudhary, prompting notices to the ECP and relevant returning officers.
Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz, a tribunal judge, emphasized the need to adhere to the Constitution and the law during appeal hearings, discouraging the discussion of political matters in court.
In Islamabad, an appellate tribunal issued notices on appeals from 51 candidates whose nomination papers were rejected, including PTI’s Ilyas Mehrban, Aamir Mughal, Shiraz Kayani, and Zubair Farooq. Tribunal Judge Arbab Muhammad Tahir also sought responses on the appeal against the acceptance of the transgender candidate Nayab Ali’s nomination papers for NA-46 and NA-47.
Meanwhile, in Karachi, the appellate tribunal at the Sindh High Court accepted the nomination papers of PTI Central Vice President Firdous Naqvi for NA-236, Karachi, declaring objections to his papers as “illegal.”
The election process is currently undergoing a thorough review, with various candidates and parties actively participating in the appeal process to ensure fair representation in the upcoming elections. The tribunals are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the final candidate list for the upcoming polls.
In a recent article for The Economist, Imran Khan, the founder and former chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), currently incarcerated, has expressed apprehensions about the legitimacy of the upcoming elections in Pakistan.
Khan argues that the caretaker governments in place at both the federal and provincial levels are constitutionally illegal due to their failure to hold elections within 90 days of dissolving parliamentary assemblies.
While the public is anticipating elections on February 8, Khan, who has faced various challenges since a vote of no confidence in April 2022, raises skepticism about the electoral process.
He points to the election commission’s actions, which he claims include defying the Supreme Court, rejecting PTI nominations, hindering internal party elections, and initiating contempt cases against PTI leaders for criticizing the commission.
“The country’s election commission has been tainted by its bizarre actions. Not only has it defied the top court but it has also rejected my Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s nominations for first-choice candidates, hindered the party’s internal elections and launched contempt cases against me and other PTI leaders for simply criticising the commission,” he wrote.
Khan contends that since his government’s removal, orchestrated by what he terms as “the establishment”—comprising the army, security agencies, and civil bureaucracy—the playing field for PTI has been anything but level. He alleges external interference, specifically from the United States, citing a State Department message urging his removal from the prime minister’s seat.
Despite subsequent protests and electoral victories in by-elections, Khan argues that the administration that replaced his government led to economic downturns, inflation, and currency devaluation within 18 months. He emphasizes the contrast between PTI’s governance, which garnered international praise, and the subsequent administration’s economic performance.
Khan claims that various measures have been taken to sideline him politically, including assassination attempts, abductions of party members, and legal harassment. Despite facing nearly 200 legal cases and being denied a normal trial, Khan states that PTI remains popular, with a 66 per cent approval rating, according to a recent poll.
The former prime minister also raises concerns about the return of Nawaz Sharif, a convicted former prime minister, speculating that Sharif may have struck a deal with the establishment for support in the upcoming elections.
Khan, who remains incarcerated on charges including treason, expresses doubt about the fairness of the electoral process, claiming that PTI is being denied its basic right to campaign.
He concludes by advocating for fair and free elections, “The only viable way forward for Pakistan is fair and free elections, which would bring back political stability and rule of law, as well as ushering in desperately needed reforms by a democratic government with a popular mandate. There is no other way for Pakistan to disentangle itself from the crises confronting it. Unfortunately, with democracy under siege, we are heading in the opposite direction on all these fronts.”
The Economist added an Editor’s Note stating, “The Pakistani government and the U.S. State Department deny Khan’s allegations of American interference, and Khan faces charges under the Official Secrets Act.”
The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has accepted the review petition of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and restored the ECP’s ruling on the intra-party polls and election symbol of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
Justice Ejaz Khan announced the reserved verdict today after hearing all parties. The Election Commission’s lawyer, Sikander Bashir Mohmand, and PTI’s lawyers, including Shah Faisal Uthmankhel and Qazi Anwar, were present in court today.
The ECP had submitted a review petition in high court against PHC’s order that suspended the ECP’s decision of declaring PTI’s intra-party elections “illegal” and stripped it of using the ‘bat’ symbol.
In its petition, the ECP requested the court to review the PTI’s intra-party elections and its decision related to the election symbol. However, PTI’s chairman, Barrister Gohar Khan, said that PTI will move to the apex court to get justice in this matter. “The Supreme Court has already stated that revoking a party’s symbol is tantamount to disbanding the entire party,” the PTI leader said, hoping that his party would get relief from the top court.
It’s that time of the electoral season when we find out just how rich are the people who rule us.
Financial details in nomination papers reveal a noteworthy surge in the assets of former Prime Minister and founding Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, a rise of a whopping Rs277 million over the past five years.
According to the documents, Imran Khan’s assets, which were valued at Rs38.694 million in 2018, have now exceeded Rs315.95 million as per the nomination papers submitted for the upcoming elections in 2023.
Imran Khan has made public the possession of a seven kanal eight marla house in Zaman Park, Lahore, with an associated construction expenditure of more than Rs48.6 million.
At the same time, the PTI founder also owns another piece of land in Islamabad, much smaller in size though – six kanals and 16 marlas- with a stated market value of over Rs 5 million.
Additionally, he has disclosed ownership of a 300-kanal land in Bani Gala received as a gift.
Notably, the former PTI chairman does not own any vehicles, as indicated in his documents.
Other assets in Islamabad include a Rs120m shop and a two-bed apartment which has been priced at Rs34m.
According to the documents, the items bought from Toshakhana – the infamous pieces that resulted in a case and disqualification – are valued at over Rs11.8m.
On the other hand, the PTI founding chairman says his wife – Bushra Bibi – is the owner of 698 kanal in Deepalpur and Pakpattan besides another three-kanal house located at Banigala.
The financial trajectory showcases a substantial increase in Imran Khan’s wealth.
He mentioned the value of his assets at Rs38.694m in the 2018 general elections’ nomination papers, which has now reached Rs315.95m, representing a massive jump, out which over Rs60m are in cash deposited with different banks of Islamabad.
In 2021, he declared assets valued at over Rs141 million to the Federal Board of Revenue, which further rose to over Rs320 million in 2022.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) certificate attached to his nomination papers for the upcoming elections in 2023 verifies that the current value of Imran Khan’s assets is over Rs315.9 million.
This revelation holds significance as Imran Khan, the jailed former Prime Minister, gears up to contest the upcoming elections. The submitted details to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) depict a considerable financial evolution over the specified five-year period.
In all honesty, 2023 was more like a crazy roller coaster than a democratic process when it comes to Pakistani politics. Here are some of the significant events that happened this year:
Assemblies dissolved
On January 14, 2023, the provincial assembly of Punjab was dissolved while on January 16, 2023, Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was dissolved as former Prime Minister Imran Khan was pushing for early national elections.
May 9
On May 9, 2023, former prime minister and founder chairman of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan was submitting his biometric data for a court appearance when paramilitary forces broke down a window inside the court to get to apprehend him.
The dramatic and sudden arrest of the former cricket star turned leader resulted in violent clashes between supporters of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and law enforcement agencies protests to mark the arrest of the former Prime Minister turned into riots.
Several military installations, including GHQ and the Lahore corps commander’s official residence, were attacked across the country within hours of Imran Khan’s detention.
May 9, termed a “black day” by the Pakistani state, ended up provoking a harsh military crackdown on Khan’s party.
PTI Dismantled
Thousands of PTI members, including many women, were rounded up and arrested after May 9 riots.
More than two dozen members of PTI resigned from the politics following the protests.
Notable figures like Shireen Mazari, Asad Umer, Fayyazul Hassan Chohan, Fawad Chaudhry, Maleeka Bokhari, Abrar ul Haq, Murad Ras, Ali Haider Zaidi, Imran Islamil, Usman Dar, Farrukh Habib, Sadaqat Ali Abbasi, Andleeb Abbas, Arbab Ghulam Rahim, Shaukat Tarin and others either left PTI or quit politics.
Imran Khan Jailed
Police arrested Pakistan’s former Prime Minister Imran Khan in Lahore on August 5, 2023, after a court sentenced him to three years in prison for illegally selling state gifts, potentially barring the opposition leader from contesting an upcoming election.
On September 26, 2023, Imran Khan was shifted to the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi from Attock prison, a day after the Islamabad High Court ordered authorities to relocate him to the high-security jail.
Qazi Faez Isa
On September 17, 2023, Justice Qazi Faez Isa was sworn in as the 29th chief justice of Pakistan.
A ceremony was held at Aiwan-i-Sadr in Islamabad during which President Arif Alvi administered the oath of office. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir were also present.
Justice Isa was accompanied by his wife, Sarina Isa, while he was taking oath.
Imran Riaz ‘safely’ returns
On the evening of May 11, 2023, police arrested Imran Riaz Khan, a former anchor with the privately owned broadcaster Express News and host of a YouTube channel with over three million subscribers.
Imran Riaz Khan, often called Imran Riaz, was trying to flee the country over fears of his arrest. At the time, authorities accused him of inciting people to violence through his reporting.
He was said to have been freed a few days later, but there was no trace of him and police denied keeping him in custody.
On September 25, 2023, his lawyer Mian Ali Ashfaq took to X (former Tiwtter) and posted a picture of Imran Riaz, after his return, stating that the recovery took a long time due to “countless difficulties, a weak judiciary” and the ineffectiveness of the Constitution. He also shared a photo of him with Khan.
The rift between Zardari and Bilawal
On November 23, 2023, the former president of Pakistan and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari‘s father, Asif Ali Zardari, during an exclusive interview with Hamid Mir on Geo News’ program “Capital Talk”, said that Bilawal is “inexperienced” and that it would take some time for him to gain more exposure, on Thursday.
“Bilawal is much more talented than I am, but he isn’t experienced,” he said.
On November 24, 2023, in a seeming act of defiance to his father, Bilawal changed his profile picture on X on Friday afternoon, to a photo with his mother Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister and head of the PPP till her assassination in 2017.
PPP denied all the claims of a rift between the father-son duo.
Afghan Refugees Repatriation
On October 3, 2023, Pakistan’s caretaker government announced it would carry out mass deportations — known under domestic law as an Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan — asking all concerned to leave the country before 1 November. Although the plan purported to apply to all foreigners residing in the country illegally, it appears designed to target Afghans, millions of whom have sought refuge in Pakistan over the years.
As of December 29, 2023, the total number of allegedly illegal Afghans who left Pakistan reached 453,480 and the process is still underway.
Nawaz Sharif Returns
On October 21, 2023, Pakistan’s thrice-elected former Prime Minister and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) supremo Nawaz Sharif returned to Pakistan, ending four years of self-imposed exile in London.
Nawaz Sharif was disqualified when the Supreme Court of Pakistan (SC) announced its decision on July 28, 2017, in the Panama Papers case. After that, Nawaz Sharif and three of his children were referred to an accountability court, which was ordered to file corruption cases against Sharif’s family within six weeks.
In July 2018, the expelled prime minister was imprisoned for 10 years in the Avenfield properties corruption case, an assets-beyond-means trial.
In the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption case, the PML-N supremo was sentenced to seven years in jail on December 24, 2018. Nawaz Sharif was taken to Adiala jail in this case, and then he was shifted to Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail on the very next day. He was also fined Rs1.5 billion and US$25 million in this case.
The former prime minister was released from jail in March 2019. After that, the Lahore High Court (LHC) allowed Nawaz Sharif to go to London for treatment for fast-depleting platelet levels, and then he left for London in November 2019.
Elections Date Announced
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced on November 3, 2023, that 8th February 2024 is the poll date for the General Elections for the National Assembly of Pakistan and Provincial assemblies of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
The date was announced by the President House in a statement following a meeting between the top election officials and President Alvi, hours after the election commission lawyer told the Supreme Court that elections will be held on February 11.
PTI New Chairman
On December 2, 2023, The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) on Saturday elected Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as the new chairman in the intra-party elections held on the directives of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
Gohar won the chairman’s position unopposed.
The change was forced on the party after the Election Commission of Pakistan warned the PTI last month that it risked losing its emblem – a cricket bat – unless an internal ballot was held for party officers.
Election symbols are crucial in a country where the adult literacy rate is 58 percent, according to World Bank data.
Baloch Long March
Demanding the release of all “missing persons” and an end to “extrajudicial killing” in Balochistan under the leadership of activist Dr Mahrang Baloch and Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), the march started in Turbat, Balochistan, on December 6 after the alleged extrajudicial killing of 24-year-old Balach Baloch.
According to BYC, when the march reached the capital, the city administration didn’t allow them to protest in front of the press club. Maharng Baloch said in her live video from the Facebook page of BYC that Islamabad police arrested 300 male protesters, eight women, and 10 children.
