Pakistan's upcoming parliamentary elections are in jeopardy according to the independent human rights commission, which has expressed concern about pre-poll rigging and the rejection of the candidacies of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and members of his party. At a recent news conference in Islamabad, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan cited evidence to suggest that the upcoming elections will not be free, fair, or credible.

The commission's co-chairperson, Munizae Jahangir, highlighted the systematic dismantling of Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party and the rejection of nomination papers for most of its candidates, raising questions about the country's Election Commission. There are apprehensions that the electoral process is being engineered, and the state's clampdown on dissent has further constricted civic discourse leading up to the elections.

The decisions by the Election Commission to keep Khan and other PTI members off the ballot have been condemned as apparent pre-poll rigging by human rights leader Farhatullah Babar. He emphasized the caretaker government's duty to ensure free and fair elections and the Election Commission's responsibility to provide all political parties with equal opportunities.

With Khan currently serving a three-year sentence for corruption and facing other charges, his disqualification from running for office has raised concerns about the legitimacy of the upcoming elections. The opposition leader's attempt to seek a seat in the National Assembly has been thwarted by election officials, and the rejection of his nomination papers has stirred up further political instability in the country. The potential for a rigged election has led to warnings that some of the main political parties may not accept the outcome, posing a threat to the stability of Pakistan's political landscape.