General Elections 2024 : Can PTI candidates pass scrutiny of their nomination papers?

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will start scrutiny of nomination papers from (today) December 25 to 30 for Februar 8, general elections. The appellate tribunals will hear objections against the nominations from January 3 to 10.

As the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) starts scrutiny of thousands of nomination papers filed , it is expected that nomination papers of multiple Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) candidates might be challenged and later rejected during the scrutiny process by their opponents.

The possible reasons of such objections and rejections of PTI candidates are their ; involvement in May 9 incidents, authentification of signatures and absence in scrutiny process.

Although the PTI candidates have placed their counsels for the legal representation, the RO’s can still demand the candidates to appear in person before the process. The ROs are bound to summon the candidate to verify their signatures and question them regarding their nomination papers.

In case of summon or any objection the PTI candidates will be unable to appear before RO’s in fear of being arrested by the law enforcement agencies (LEA). If ordered to appear before RO ; Failing to appear on orders will eventually lead to the nomination papers of the candidates rejected.

PTI in search of level playing field 

The ECP marked PTI as a leaderless political entity, when it issued the list for heads of political parties participating in general elections. Earlier , the ECP declared PTI’s intraparty elections “null and void” and made the PTI ineligible for using iconic bat symbol for the polls. PTI vowed to challenge the ECP ruling in apex or High Court tomorrow December 26.