PTI chairman and deposed premier Imran Khan decided to run alone for the by-elections for all the nine seats that fell vacant after the National Assembly speaker had accepted the resignations of PTI’s lawmakers.
The by-election for nine National Assembly seats left vacant by the PTI members will take place on September 25, according to an announcement made by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on August 5.
The announcement came a week after the resignations of 9 legislators were accepted by National Assembly Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf. These include Dr Shireen Mazari, Farrukh Habib, Ali Muhammad Khan and Ijaz Ahmed Shah, Fazal Muhammad Khan, Shaukat Ali, Fakhar Zaman Khan, Jamil Ahmed Khan, Muhammad Akram Cheema and Abdul Shakoor Shad.
Read more: ECP reveals poll schedule for PTI’s nine vacant NA seats
These PTI legislators whose resignations were accepted are among the 100 plus who resigned on April 11, two days after former prime minister Imran Khan was ousted from the government office in a no-confidence vote.
According to an ECP statement issued today, the by-elections for the constituencies of NA-22 Mardan, NA-24 Charsadda, NA-31 Peshawar, NA-45 Kurram, NA-108 Faisalabad, NA-118 Nankana Sahib and Karachi’s NA-237, NA-239, and NA-246 will be held on Sep 25. Election Commission of Pakistan said that the candidates could submit their nomination papers from Aug 10 to 13, which would be verified by Aug 17, while election symbols would be issued to the candidates on August 29.
Read more: PTI accused of dynastic politics as SMQ’s daughter runs for NA seat
Just hours after the ECP’s announcement, the PTI’s official social media account and several party leaders tweeted about Imran Khan’s plan to run for the nine National Assembly seats. Many people also took to twitter to react to the announcement.
By election on following seats on 25 September
This will be once again
Imran Khan vs All
NA22 Mardan
NA24 Charsadda
NA31 Peshawar
NA45 Kurram
NA108 Faisalabad
NA118 Nankana Sahib
NA237 Malir Karachi
NA239 Korangi Karachi
NA246 South Karachi#لیڈر_صرف_عمران_خان pic.twitter.com/jIX43nGRuH— PTI (@PTIofficial) August 6, 2022
One VS All – A remarkable masterstroke by skipper @ImranKhanPTI!
#لیڈر_صرف_عمران_خان pic.twitter.com/45iL5QZJoP— Muhammad Basharat Raja (@RajaBasharatLAW) August 5, 2022