Arrr, me mateys! Nawas Sharif sets sail fer election campaign in Pakistan amidst accusations of rigging!
2024-01-15
Arr, me mateys, listen up! The scallywag Nawaz Sharif, former captain of Pakistan, has set sail on his grand election voyage! The Supreme Court be showin' mercy, liftin' the ban on politicians with a shady past. Aye, 'tis a jolly good time fer a pirate to be runnin' fer office!
The general election campaign in Pakistan has begun with a rally held by the party of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. However, analysts and Sharif's imprisoned rival have accused authorities of attempting to rig the upcoming vote. The rally took place in Punjab province, a week after the Supreme Court lifted a lifetime ban on politicians with convictions from running for public office. This ruling cleared the way for Sharif to potentially secure a fourth term as prime minister, after stepping down in 2017 due to corruption charges. Sharif's conviction and sentences in graft cases were later overturned, making him eligible to seek a parliament seat in the election.The Pakistan Muslim League, led by Sharif, is expected to win many parliament seats and may be in a position to form a new government after the election. However, election officials have rejected the candidacies of Sharif's rival, former Prime Minister Imran Khan, and most members of his party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf. Khan, despite being ousted in a no-confidence vote and convicted in a graft case, remains a leading political figure. Sharif's daughter, Maryam Nawaz, who is the chief organizer of his party, called on people to vote for PML candidates and restore the party to power.
The rally took place two days after the Election Commission of Pakistan upheld its decision to deprive Khan's party of its election symbol, a cricket bat. The commission argued that PTI did not fairly hold its internal election for a party leader to replace Khan. Despite these challenges, Khan's party has stated that it will not boycott the election. Other politicians, including Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, head of the Pakistan People's Party, have also intensified their campaigning for the parliamentary election.