Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) approached Supreme Court on Monday against Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), for what it called a wilful attempt by the commission to keep party chief Imran Khan away from canvassing in by-elections? PTI central region Punjab President Mansoor Sarwar Khan submitted through his counsel Hamid Khan a statement in the apex court, claiming that the ECP had mala-fide intentions in restraining parliamentarians from running election campaign.
The party insisted that the notification for the ban on campaigning was aimed at Imran Khan since he is the only MNA who does not hold any official position and therefore could run an election campaign. The statement, however, endorsed the Lahore High Court's (LHC) order and subsequent ECP notification on May 7, barring MNAs and MPAs from entering constituencies at the time of polling.
According to Sarwar Khan, preventing the PTI chief from campaigning in the constituencies was a violation of Articles 15, 16, 17 and 19 of the Constitution and therefore, the notification is liable to be struck down. Earlier on Monday, Imran said the party is investigating the number of PTI votes 'thrown out' of the NA-122 by-election. The party chief, emphasising on the number of votes thrown out of NA-122 at the last minute, said the party would approach the ECP once the investigation is done.