PTI Calls for Judicial Review of 2018 and 2024 Elections Amid Legitimacy Debate

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has once again raised questions about the transparency of the 2024 general elections, rejecting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent parliamentary statement and demanding an independent and judicially supervised audit of both the 2018 and 2024 elections.

This reaction came after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s statement in the National Assembly in which he spoke of an investigation into the 2018 elections in the context of Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s declaration of the government as “illegal”. The Prime Minister’s position was that if the government formed as a result of the 2018 elections is recognized as legitimate, then the current government should also be considered legitimate on the same basis.

PTI Central Secretary for Information Sheikh Waqas Akram said in a statement issued on Wednesday that the Prime Minister’s stance actually reinforces the questions raised regarding the February 2024 elections. He said that to restore public confidence, it is necessary to conduct a complete and impartial review of the electoral process.

Sheikh Waqas Akram claimed that after the 2018 elections, PTI founder Imran Khan had offered to scrutiniserecognisedscrutinise the results of several constituencies, while the current government seems reluctant to conduct an independent analysis of the election results. According to him, if the government is confident in its position, it should not be afraid of any kind of transparent audit or investigation.

The PTI leader said that an investigation is necessary to end the ongoing political dispute regarding the elections that all political parties and the public have confidence in. He said that this process can strengthen the credibility of the electoral system and public confidence in democratic institutions.

The statement also raised the issue of alleged irregularities related to the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP). Sheikh Waqas Akram, citing audit reports that have come out in the media, claimed that there were serious financial and administrative shortcomings in payments worth billions of rupees.

He demanded that these allegations be investigated independently, and if any corruption or violation of rules is proven, action should be taken against the responsible elements as per the law. He said that ensuring transparency in public welfare programmes is the primary responsibility of the state.

The PTI spokesperson also expressed concern over the recent political situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. According to him, the path of dialogue and understanding should be taken to resolve political issues so that stability can be maintained in the region. On the other hand, the Azad Kashmir government is of the view that it has tried to resolve all issues peacefully.

Sheikh Waqas Akram, while mentioning the legal status of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and other PTI leaders, said that the party will take legal action on these issues. He also demanded the release of Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Dr Yasmin Rashid and other arrested leaders.

According to political observers, issues like transparency in elections, accountability in welfare programmes and political stability will remain important topics of the country’s politics in the coming days. Despite ongoing differences between the government and the opposition, the continuity of the democratic process and the strengthening of institutions are being considered important for the country’s political future.