PTI unveils ‘Plan C’ despite election symbol setbacks

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), despite appearing to losing all ground. Is resolved to put up a fight against its political rivals and has unveiled ‘Plan C’ regarding the timing of voting and assembly formation.

The PTI, founded by former prime minister Imran Khan, faced two major setbacks last Saturday. The Supreme Court ruling in favour of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). And depriving PTI of its ‘bat’ symbol. And the Tehreek-e-Insaf Nazriati backtracking on a deal with the party to share its symbol for elections.

Despite the fact that each PTI candidate will run independently on February 8th using different symbols (e.g., kettle, brinjal, tongs, etc.). The party’s leadership has expressed concern that they won’t receive reserved seats. Because those are allotted to political parties.

Any party hoping to win seats in the National Assembly—of which 336 total—would suffer a serious blow from this. As 70 are set aside for women and non-Muslims.

14 of the 65 seats in the Balochistan provincial legislature are reserved. 30 of the 145 seats in the house of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are reserved. 38 of the 168 seats in Sindh are reserved. And 74 of the 371 seats in Punjab are reserved.

PTI’s senior leader Barrister Gohar Ali Khan. Also told journalists in Islamabad that he feared there would be “horse-trading” as when his party’s candidates won. Other political parties would poach them to strengthen their position.

This would be, as per some legal experts. Legal as they will not bound by party policy since they will elected. As independent candidates and cannot be disqualified under Article 63-A (which deals with a party member’s defection).

In conversation with private news channel’ Hamid Mir. PTI leader Gohar said when the February 8 elections are done. “We will not get reserved seats”.

Also Read: PPP protests denial of ‘arrow’ symbol to candidates in Punjab

“However, there is something: Once our candidates are elected. They can join us and we can reform our party.”

“So we will have three days after the elections. When they join us and tell [relevant authorities] that they have joined this party, we can get the reserved seats.”

When the anchorperson said this was a strategy that he shouldn’t have revealed on live television. He said: “This is our Plan C — to bring back the people [under one umbrella].”

Barrister Muhammad Ahmed Pansota told private news channel that the political party is still intact. It is its symbol that has taken away for the upcoming elections.

“So once the general as well as the intra-party elections take place. The party can always apply on the basis of their symbol for the reserved seats. Also, if they join a political party, they can also get the reserved seats; it will be an interesting situation.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development. And Transparency (Pildat) President Ahmed Bilal Mehboob is of the view that the reserved seats are proportional to the number of winning candidates. And their respective political affiliations.

However, independent candidates have the option to join a political party that has representation in the parliament, has run candidates in polls. And has filed nomination papers for its candidates for the reserved seats after the elections. According to Mehbood in an interview with private news channel.

Regarding the possibility of independent candidates founding a new political party without first filing nomination papers or participating in polls. The president of Pildat argued that the laws and regulations prohibit such an action.