LAHORE: The Pakis­tan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), in collaboration with five other opposition parties, will launch a mass protest movement against what it calls “worst-ever rigging” in the general elections and subsequent by-polls, on Friday (tomorrow).

On Wednesday, an online meeting of PTI Punjab office-bearers, MNAs, MPAs and ticket-holders was held to discuss the issue and chalk out a plan for Friday’s protests, which will be held across the country.

Chaired by the party’s Central Punjab general secretary Hammad Azhar, the meeting took stock of the “stealing of PTI-backed candidates’ mandate” in all national and provincial assembly constituencies across Punjab.

The party accuses the Punjab government and Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of orchestrating rigging in the recent polls.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Azhar said the Maryam Nawaz government, ECP, police and other state institutions maneuvered and altered the results of PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council candidates to turn their victories into defeat.

PTI’s Punjab Informa­tion Secretary Shaukat Basra said rigging in by-elections had defeated the hopes of the nation. He was of the opinion that the Constitution had been trampled by repeated violation of law and the nation would surely rise to take revenge for their stolen mandate.

Meanwhile, at a press conference in Karachi, PTI Sindh leader Haleem Adil Sheikh said the party had sought permission from the Sindh High Court for tomorrow’s protest, and that they planned to organise another rally near the Mazar-i-Quaid on May 5.

He recalled how official machinery had been used to curtail PTI’s political activities in the past by putting the city in lockdown or denying permission for their rallies.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2024