Despite the lack of clarity about the polls, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Asad Umar on Sunday announced that the Imran Khan-led party will begin its election campaign for the Punjab elections tomorrow.
Tehreek-e-Insaf will officially start its election campaign from tomorrow. They (PDM) may not be ready but we are,” Umar tweeted.
کل سے انشاءاللہ پنجاب کے تمام حلقوں میں تحریک انصاف الیکشن مہم کا باقاعدہ آغاز کر دے گی۔ یہ تیار ہوں نہ ہوں، ہم تیار ہیں
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) April 23, 2023
The PTI finalized the list of 297 candidates for the polls earlier this week after PTI Chairman Imran Khan personally interviewed all party candidates to maintain merit in awarding party tickets.
The former prime minister – who was ousted by a no-confidence motion in April last year – conducted one-on-one interviews with all the candidates from April 6 to April 18 to select the nominees.
But the allotment of tickets has not gone well within the party as many high-profile leaders were snubbed.
Subsequently, JEE News, citing sources, reported that Khan was planning to include party vice-chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Umar in the review committee to overcome objections.
The PTI on Thursday formed a four-member committee to clear objections over ticket distribution, which has always been an issue in the party.
The panel included Mossadegh Abbasi, Ejaz Chaudhary, Rai Hassan Nawaz and Aoon Abbas. However, after a backlash from party workers and supporters, Khan is likely to involve some senior members to decide appeals related to ticket distribution.
Interestingly, PTI’s announcement to start election campaign has come despite the uncertainty regarding the elections.
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is awaiting funds from the federal government to conduct the elections.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court ordered the ECP to hold elections in Punjab on May 14. In its April 4 order, the Supreme Court had directed the federal government to release funds worth Rs 21 billion for the ECP by April 10. Security for elections.
However, the government has refused to release funds for the elections as the parliament rejected the proposal. While the Ministry of Defense has also refused to provide security for the elections in view of the security situation.
The ministry had also filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking withdrawal of its order to hold elections on May 14. The case is under hearing in the Supreme Court and during the proceedings, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Atta Bandyal remarked that the three-judge bench will not withdraw its order to hold elections on May 14.
