The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) unveiled its election manifesto in Islamabad. Party chairman Barrister Gauhar Ali Khan highlighted the party’s challenges, including an uneven playing field and candidate harassment. He criticized these tactics as unconstitutional and as obstructions to democracy.
Barrister Gauhar questioned the fairness of the upcoming February 8 elections and appealed to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for equal rights for all parties and candidates. He stressed that PTI, despite being the largest political party in Pakistan, faces campaign restrictions.
The PTI manifesto proposes constitutional amendments to alter the Prime Minister’s election process, advocating for direct election by the people. Additionally, the party plans to reduce assembly terms from five to four years.
Barrister Gauhar pledged to establish a truth and reconciliation commission to address public grievances. The manifesto embodies the party’s vision of “one nation, one law” and equality.
He emphasized the need for legal reforms, including updates to criminal and civil laws and the introduction of new investigative methods to protect fundamental rights.
The manifesto also suggests reducing the Senate’s tenure from six to five years, with direct public elections for half of the senators. The PTI chairman committed to combating corruption through enhanced monitoring initiatives.
This announcement follows the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) economic manifesto, which aims to balance public expectations with Pakistan’s financial challenges. The PML-N manifesto aligns with IMF projections but remains silent on new bailout packages and public debt management. It hints at potential engagement with an IMF program while retracting a promise of free electricity for consumers using up to 200 units monthly.