Pakistan: Imran Khan's Nomination Papers Rejected

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Image copyright: Voice of America [via Wikimedia Commons]

The Facts

  • The Election Commission of Pakistan has rejected former Prime Minister Imran Khan's nomination papers for parliamentary elections scheduled for February, a decision the jailed leader's lawyers have deemed politically motivated and vowed to appeal.

  • Khan — who has sought to contest in the constituencies of Islamabad, Lahore, and Mianwali — has previously been disqualified for five years due to a three-year conviction for "corrupt practices" that hasn't been set aside, despite the Islamabad High Court suspending his sentence.

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The Spin

Establishment-critical narrative

There is no doubt that PTI candidates have been fighting an uphill battle against the establishment in an electoral process that is all but free and fair. Pre-poll rigging and abuse of authority, as well as unwavering incidents of harassment against and unlawful detention of its leaders and supporters, expose the failure of the electoral body in performing its duties.

Pakistan Today

Pro-establishment narrative

It was clear from the beginning that the jailed politician wouldn't be allowed to contest the 2024 elections after his conviction and disqualification. Yet, although he was very well aware that the election commission would reject his candidature, Imran Khan filed these nomination papers so that he could cry foul and rouse his supporters. It is Khan who is undermining democracy in Pakistan.

Pakistan Observer

Metaculus Prediction

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