ISLAMABAD: As the February 8 polls approach, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) unveiled its condensed election manifesto on Sunday, pledging to eradicate the “negative past” if granted power next month.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, PTI leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, accompanied by Information Secretary Raoof Hasan, presented a concise overview of the party’s election manifesto, envisioning a prosperous future for the country in contrast to its challenging history.
The party’s slogan for the 2024 elections is “Great Pakistan, great future, and freedom from a bad past,” stated the former chairman.
This move by the former ruling party follows similar actions by its competitors, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), who recently revealed their long-awaited election manifestos to appeal to over 128 million voters just weeks before the polls.
Facing legal and political obstacles, the PTI lost its “bat” symbol due to irregularities in intra-party polls, leading to independent candidacies with distinct electoral symbols in the upcoming general elections.
Additionally, the PTI has encountered political challenges, with key leaders such as founder Imran Khan and former vice chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi in custody. The party’s predicament worsened with the departure of senior leaders after the May 9 riots, exacerbating the perception of a “leaderless” party.
Despite receiving relief from the Supreme Court, allowing certain leaders to participate in the elections, including former president Parvez Elahi, Umer Aslam, Major (retd) Tahir Sadiq, Sanam Javaid Khan, and Shaukat Basra, the PTI faces an uphill electoral battle.
Barrister Gohar lamented the challenges in running their election campaign and urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to address the obstacles faced by the party in its electoral activities, emphasizing the need for equal opportunities.
Highlighting the commitment of their candidates despite contesting on independent symbols, he stressed that the party has been denied the opportunity to present itself to the masses.
Despite the manifesto unveiling, the former ruling party is up against tough competition, with PPP’s “Chuno Nai Soch Ko” (Choose new thinking) and PML-N’s “Pakistan Ko Nawaz Do” manifestos gaining attention in the political landscape.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
