Syed Ali Shah:
QUETTA: The nomination papers of Qasim Suri, the Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf (PTI) candidate for NA 263 Quetta, were rejected on Saturday by the Returning Officer (RO) citing his status as a wanted individual in an anti-terrorist court case related to the May 9 incident.
Akhtar Mengal, Khushal Kakar, Nawab Jogezai Papers Rejected
The RO also rejected the nomination papers of key political figures, including Sardar Akhtar Mengal, Chief of the Balochistan National Party (BNP), Khushal Khan Kakar, Chief of Pashtoonkhwa National Awami Party (PNAP), and Nawab Ayaz Khan Jogezai, the PKMAP candidate for NA Zhob seat.
Suri A Proclaimed Offender: RO Says
In a brief statement, the RO declared Qasim Suri a proclaimed offender and highlighted his wanted status in connection with the May 9 case. Suri, the former deputy speaker of the national assembly, had submitted his nomination papers on the PTI ticket for NA 263. Sources close to Suri have indicated that the decision will be legally challenged.
The rejection of Suri’s nomination papers follows the Balochistan High Court’s denial of his bail application. The BHC Judge, Mr. Justice Kamran Khan Malakhail, ruled that Suri must surrender before the court as he faces charges in the anti-terrorist court in Quetta.
RO’s Decision To Be Challenged: Lawyers
The RO confirmed that the detailed judgment regarding Qasim Suri’s nomination papers has been handed over to his legal representatives. Authorities have initiated efforts to apprehend Suri, with police conducting raids at his residence in the Hanna Urak area of Quetta. However, Suri was not present at his residence during the police raid.
Qasim Suri, who secured a seat in the National Assembly from Quetta City in the 2018 general elections, now faces legal challenges that may impact his political future.
The current circumstances give rise to concerns that the Baloch and Pashtun representation in the National and Provincial Assemblies might not be determined by their constituents’ votes but would be selected by Punjabi nationalists, wielding influence through force and power,The elections of February 8, 2024, are likely to be tainted by accusations of malpractice, including cheating, rigging, violence, and fraud, and these allegations are justified.