Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders have urged the judiciary to promptly address their petitions regarding alleged vote rigging in the 2024 general elections, the controversial 26th Constitutional Amendment, and the release of political prisoners, including the party’s founder, Imran Khan. These demands were made during a joint press conference in Islamabad on Monday, where key PTI figures, including Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, Omar Ayub Khan, Shibli Faraz, and Salman Akram Raja, voiced their concerns.
Gohar Ali Khan, a senior PTI leader, criticized the formation of a government he referred to as a “Form 47” government, which he claimed was created by manipulating the majority. He highlighted that PTI had filed 74 petitions regarding vote rigging in the February 8, 2024, elections, but no verdicts had been delivered by the courts. “One year has passed since the nation gave its mandate to PTI,” Gohar remarked, expressing frustration over the delay in judicial decisions.
The PTI also took issue with the 26th Constitutional Amendment, which led to the appointment of 46 judges to the superior judiciary, including 12 in Sindh, 10 in Peshawar, and others across various provinces. This move sparked criticism from some Supreme Court judges and the legal community, and PTI boycotted the Judicial Commission of Pakistan’s (JCP) meeting in protest. Gohar reiterated that the case related to this amendment needed to be heard and resolved by the judiciary.
Omar Ayub Khan, the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, called on the judiciary to uphold the rule of law and release all political prisoners, including Imran Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023. Ayub emphasized that the anti-terrorism courts needed to take a stand, particularly in Khan’s case, where he claimed that the former prime minister had been deprived of basic jail facilities and kept in isolation at Adiala Jail. Ayub also identified other PTI leaders, such as Shah Mahmood Qureshi and Yasmin Rashid, as political prisoners who should be freed.
Ayub criticized the government for making false claims about economic progress and inflation reduction, claiming that the country’s political instability and lack of investment were hindering the nation’s progress.
Salman Akram Raja, PTI’s Secretary General, reiterated the party’s call for the appointment of more judges to election tribunals, particularly in Punjab, where only two jurists were appointed to hear election-related petitions. Raja also emphasized that the current parliament lacked legitimacy due to the alleged stolen mandate, which he argued could not be concealed.
Shibli Faraz, the leader of the opposition in the Senate, underscored that Pakistan could not achieve political stability without free and fair elections. He stressed the importance of passing legislation that would provide relief to the people of Pakistan.
In addition to these demands, PTI has intensified efforts to create a grand opposition alliance. Imran Khan, despite being incarcerated, has directed his party to work towards uniting various opposition parties to challenge the government. PTI’s legal advisor, Faisal Chaudhry, revealed that Khan had tasked Asad Qaiser with contacting several opposition groups, including the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), and others, to form a united front focused on restoring the constitution and democracy.
Since Khan’s ouster from power, PTI has organized multiple anti-government protests, though many of these events turned violent. The May 9, 2023, protest, which followed Khan’s arrest, saw clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement, leading to the targeting of government and military installations. Similarly, the November 2024 protest in Islamabad resulted in violent confrontations between the protesters and authorities.
As PTI pushes for the resolution of these critical issues, the party is seeking both judicial and political action to address its grievances and move towards a path of political stability and justice for its leaders and supporters.
