SWABI, Pakistan — Pakistani opposition parties, including the Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, staged demonstrations on February 8 to mark the first anniversary of the country’s general elections, which triggered widespread allegations of vote-rigging.
The opposition parties are demanding that new elections be held in the country, which the current coalition government made up of Khan’s rivals — the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) — have rejected.
Khan’s PTI and other opposition parties allege that the Pakistani military rigged the February 8, 2024, elections in favor of the ruling PML-N. The allegations have been denied by the PML-N, the military, and the Pakistani Election Commission.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court has also rejected the request to void the election, which prompted the United States, Britain, and the European Union to voice concerns about the way the vote was conducted and to urge an investigation.
Other parties participating in the February 8 demonstrations, included the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), PTI and Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM-Haqiqi).
Ali Amin Gandapur, a key Khan ally and chief minister of the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, repeated the allegations of widespread fraud in a video address to party workers ahead of the so-called “Black Day” demonstrations on February 8.
Caravans of demonstrators from across the province traveled to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Swabi district, where thousands gathered to call for Khan’s release.
Ahead of the demonstrations, the federal government in Islamabad and provincial authorities in Balochistan and Punjab enacted measures to restrict public gatherings, citing security concerns.
Scores of PTI members and leaders over the past two years have been targeted for protesting the jailing of Khan and the military’s alleged meddling in politics.
Khan last month was sentenced to 14 years in prison on fresh corruption charges in a case he denounced as politically motivated. His wife was also convicted and sentenced to seven years.
The 72-year-old former cricket superstar-turned-politician, who served as prime minister from 2018 to 2022, has been in jail since August 2023.
source : rferl