A bizarre situation emerged at the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday when the three individuals listed as applicants for the registration of the new ‘Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan’ (TTAP) political alliance categorically denied ever submitting the request, plunging the hearing into a state of confusion.
The petition, purportedly filed by Ali Sher of Aman Tehreek, Fazal Aman of Falahhi Tehreek, and Muhammad Farooq of Welfare Party, took an unexpected turn when all three men disavowed the filing. ‘We never applied for the registration of any alliance,’ stated Fazal Aman Khan, expressing surprise. ‘We only learned about this application after receiving a notice from the Election Commission.’
During the proceedings, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, a prominent leader associated with the actual TTAP movement, intervened. He requested a copy of the case record from the ECP, clarifying that the authentic coalition, led by Mahmood Khan Achakzai, had already been established independently.
The perplexing circumstances prompted a stern response from the commission. ‘We didn’t issue the notice on our own – someone must have filed the application,’ the Punjab Member of the Election Commission remarked. Officials noted the submission was received on the letterhead of Pakistan Aman Tehreek.
The Punjab Member advised the professed applicants of their options. ‘A forensic verification of the application should be conducted. If it was filed mistakenly, you may apologize; if you filed it and are now backing out, you can withdraw it – otherwise, legal action will follow.’
Following this directive, Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar urged the ECP to dismiss the petition entirely. The commission instructed the three individuals to submit formal written statements before it could issue a final order. Subsequently, the trio formally requested to withdraw their application, bringing the immediate hearing to a close.
This development adds a new layer of intrigue to the emerging Tehreek-i-Tahafuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan, an alliance that has recently gained political traction as the PTI’s preferred opposition bloc in Parliament under Mahmood Khan Achakzai’s leadership.