PTI plans to contest 2024 general elections

PTI plans to contest 2024 general elections at both provincial and national levels

Imran Khan's party plans to nominate candidates from 'all constituencies' for February 8 election

With political parties in "election mode" for the upcoming elections, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced on Monday that it will contest the 2024 general elections at both provincial and national levels. 

The announcement by the former ruling party came after a core committee meeting of the PTI in which it was decided to nominate candidates from "all constituencies" to participate in the elections. 

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) last week ended months of electoral uncertainty by announcing February 8 as the date for the 2024 general elections. 

The top poll body discussed with President Arif Alvi the directions of the three-member Supreme Court committee led by CJP Isa while hearing several pleas to conduct timely polls within 90 days. Later, the schedule for the poll was announced. 

In a statement, Imran Khan's party reiterated the party's strength and determination to participate in electoral politics, adding that "coercion and fascism will not hinder (PTI's) participation in elections." "After his release (from Adiala prison), PTI leaders will lead the country," the statement said, referring to the imprisonment of former prime minister and party leader Imran Khan. 
"If the Speaker continues to stay in prison, he will bail the people out of prison," he added. 
PTI leader and party vice-chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi is currently detained in Adiala jail in the crypto case. 

The ousted prime minister, who was removed from office by a vote of parliament, was last week arrested after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) rejected his bail application and terminated the proceedings; He applied to the court for bail in the encryption case. First report (TANNE) canceled. 

On October 23, the two had filed an application under CrPC 265-D for quashing the charges after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) charged them with violating the Secrecy Act by misusing and misplacing diplomatic cables. He was indicted on October 23rd in connection with the encryption incident. Conversation between Pakistan's envoy in Washington and a US diplomat. Last week, the party suffered another major setback when former parliament speaker Asad Qaiser was arrested in a bribery case and sent to Adiala prison, where he was held in the same facility as Mr. Khan and Mr. Qureshi. 

The PTI group also agreed to release a 'white paper' highlighting the decisions of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and the interim government that have led to the country's dire economic situation. 

"The nation and the world (as a whole) will not tolerate election interference and manipulation," the party said in a statement, highlighting the issue of a level playing field. 

The PTI is not the only party to complain about the lack of equal opportunity, with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) also making it clear that there is no level playing field. 

Both parties claim that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is being given preferential treatment. PTI's announcement of contesting the elections comes at a time when political parties are preparing to go into "election mode" as polling day approaches. 

Earlier in the day, three-time former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, who returned from self-imposed four-year exile last month, announced his election to party leaders while chairing a meeting in Lahore. He instructed them to begin preparations.