ISLAMABAD, Aug 25: Chief of Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan on Sunday announced that he would challenge the candidature of all “dubious characters fielded by the pro- Musharraf party” in election tribunals.

Speaking at a press conference here on Sunday, Mr Khan alleged that massive pre-poll rigging was going on to benefit “King’s party”.

He said his party had assessed its position and found out that it had a clear edge over other parties as far as its candidates were concerned, but also hinted that in the presence of smugglers, manipulators, turncoats and criminals in the field, no righteous person could think of running and winning the elections.

He said his party rejected the amendments made in the constitution, which could only be made by an elected parliament.

“By introducing constitutional amendments amid credible reports that pre-poll rigging is going on to ensure desirable election results, the military government has shown its reluctance to transfer power after the October polls,” Mr Khan said.

He declared that his party would contest the polls alone and only make inevitable local adjustments with Mutehida Majlis-i-Amal candidates.

“We are taking care to maintain the party’s line that it will never side with people of suspicious character to achieve success in politics,” the chairman said.

He warned that those claiming to establish a true democracy would give another sham democracy to the people if they continued to support a certain bunch of opportunists who called themselves politicians.

“The situation will turn more complex and no one will be able to resolve the national crises brimming out of unfair polls,” he added.

The chairman asked the Election Commission to take notice of pre-poll election manipulations that included putting pressure on people of other parties and independent candidates to make them join the ‘King’s party’.

Opinion

Editorial

Doctor attacked
09 Jun, 2026

Doctor attacked

AN act of reprehensible violence has shaken the medical community. On Saturday, an employee of the Provincial Civil...
AJK flare-up
Updated 09 Jun, 2026

AJK flare-up

The situation started deteriorating after a trader affiliated with the JAAC was reportedly shot in an altercation with law-enforcers.
Fault lines
09 Jun, 2026

Fault lines

THE April 8 ceasefire that halted hostilities between Israel and Iran has encountered its most serious test yet....
Soft on traders
08 Jun, 2026

Soft on traders

THE Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200m has been designed as a ‘pragmatic...
Ceasefire in name
Updated 08 Jun, 2026

Ceasefire in name

Both sides accuse the other of violating the truce that was supposed to halt the conflict in April, yet neither appears willing to abandon negotiations altogether.
Damaged childhoods
08 Jun, 2026

Damaged childhoods

CHILD abuse is so prevalent that the UN ranked Pakistan as the least safe country for children. Even so, more than...