PTI announces protest movement against alleged election rigging

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Omar Ayub Khan announced on Friday that the former ruling party, along with a “grand opposition alliance,” would launch a protest movement against alleged election rigging in the February 8 general election and for the “restoration of the Constitution and democracy” in the country, starting from Balochistan.

Earlier this month, the party founded by Imran Khan had declared its intention to commence a nationwide movement against alleged election rigging from April 13.

Speaking to reporters in Rawalpindi after meeting with PTI founder Imran Khan at Adiala jail, party leader Asad Qaiser stated that the inaugural rally would take place in the Pishin district as part of the protest movement.

The PTI leadership believed that the current government usurped their electoral mandate, alleging that results were manipulated in Form 47s to benefit the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and the Pakistan People’s Party.

Ayub indicated that the protest movement would commence in Balochistan before expanding nationwide.

A meeting of opposition parties [scheduled for today] will discuss the potential inclusion of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman into the grand opposition alliance.

Earlier this month, PTI formed the opposition alliance as part of efforts to challenge the incumbent government.

“We are the strongest opposition in history; we do not retreat,” Ayub asserted.

The grand opposition alliance has united on the principle of upholding the Constitution and the rule of law.

According to the PTI leader, economic investment and development are contingent upon the supremacy of the constitution. He cited the case of Saudi businessmen investing in a solar energy project in Balochistan, which faced disruption when the PTI government was ousted, and the PDM-II government assumed power.

In April 2022, Khan was removed as Prime Minister of Pakistan through a no-confidence vote.

Addressing alleged crackdowns on PTI workers after the May 9 riots, Ayub claimed that over 200 cases were filed against the PTI founder, highlighting the hardships faced by party members.

“Our mission is to uphold the supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law,” Ayub stated, questioning why they were being pushed to the brink.

“We want a strong nation,” he concluded, also raising concerns about Senate elections and asserting that “the people will ensure equal application of the law for all.”