The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has announced plans for nationwide protests at 12 pm today, citing allegations of electoral fraud and diminution of its mandate in the February 8 elections.
Following the unofficial tally from Pakistan’s general elections, various parties have initiated demonstrations while leading parties embark on coalition-building endeavours to establish governments at both federal and provincial levels.
Having secured a leading position with over 90 National Assembly seats, PTI has declared its intention to conduct “peaceful protests” across the country to address what it describes as unprecedented electoral manipulation.
According to a PTI statement, the protests aim to highlight the significant reduction of its parliamentary majority, initially projected at 180 seats, by alleged electoral malpractices.
In a preceding press briefing in Islamabad, PTI showcased discrepancies between Form 45s and Form 47s, asserting a record-setting manipulation in the electoral process. As a PTI spokesperson, Raoof Hasan emphasized the historical magnitude of the alleged rigging, indicating a substantial disparity in vote counts for national and provincial seats as per these forms.
The PTI is not alone in its grievances regarding the February 8 elections; other parties, including the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) and the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), have also raised concerns over electoral integrity.
In anticipation of PTI’s protests, authorities have disseminated two terrorism threat alerts and prohibited unlawful gatherings in Islamabad. Islamabad Police Inspector General Dr. Akbar Nasir Khan underscored the enforcement of strict regulations against any unauthorized assemblies.
Despite no official requests for protest permissions, additional security measures, including deploying Punjab Rangers, have been implemented to manage potential disruptions.
The imposition of Police Order 2002 in Islamabad restricts public gatherings without official consent, with the police explicitly informing political entities of Section 144’s application within the city.
The police have issued warnings of legal repercussions for those defying security measures and advised women and minors against approaching designated areas of the city during the protest hours.
