Imran opts for solo run on 33 NA seats.

LAHORE -- In another bid to frustrate the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), PTI Chairman Imran Khan has decided to contest by-elections on 33 National Assembly seats, vacated following the de-seating of PTI lawmakers by the Election Commission earlier this month.

The by-polls on these seats will take place on March 16. According to PTI, the party leaders who were de-seated from the said constituencies will submit their nomination papers as covering candidates for Mr Khan.

This is not the first time Imran Khan has decided to contest polls on multiple seats against the ruling PDM. In previous by-elections held in October 2022, the PTI chairman contested from eight constituencies and emerged victorious in six.

Speaking to media persons in Lahore, PTI leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi said the decision to field Mr Khan on all the vacant seats was taken after a meeting of the core committee and parliamentary party members at Zaman Park. The matter was discussed at length and it was decided that the PTI would fully participate in the elections, he added.

PTI urges Alvi to intervene over 'growing interference' of establishment in politics

The meeting agreed that the PDM government was shying away from holding general elections in Punjab and KP within 90 days but it was ready to test its 'political engineering' in the upcoming by-elections, the former minister said, adding that the nation 'would teach the corrupt PDM leaders a lesson yet again'.

Mr Qureshi also talked about backdoor talks between the establishment and PTI. He said the former ruling party has no contact with the establishment anymore.

'President Dr Arif Alvi made efforts for bridge-building [between PTI and establishment] but there was no progress,' he regretted.

About Fawad Chaudhry's arrest, Mr Qureshi said not only the PTI but Mr Chaudhry's detractors were also criticising the actions of the government. 'Even senators and senior lawyers have condemned the way Mr Chaudhry is being treated,' he added.

Mr Chaudhry's wife Hiba Fawad said her husband was being treated like a terrorist and added that the PTI mouthpiece was 'being subjected to torture'.

She said Mr Chaudhry was not allowed to meet his daughters despite court orders. 'We will file a contempt of court petition in the higher court,' she added.

Asad Umar, the PTI secretary general, while responding to a question, said the Lahore High Court would hopefully give a date for elections in Punjab on Monday (today). He added...