— Former PM says ‘free elections under credible ECP’ only way forward
ISLAMABAD: A day following his party’s resounding victory in Punjab by-polls, former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Monday reiterated his demand of holding fresh elections in the country but with a new election commission as he claimed that the incumbent CEC had become controversial.
20 seats were up for grabs in the by-election, which was seen as a popularity test for the former international cricket star dismissed by a no-confidence vote in April. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won 15, with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif taking four, and one going to an independent.
Sunday’s vote was also seen as a bellwether for national elections that must be held by October next year, although Khan has campaigned across the country for an earlier poll since being dismissed.
“There is only one way [to rid the country of political instability]… free and fair election. When they were removing me, I had announced general elections but courts overturned my decision. I still believe it was the right call,” he said while addressing the nation following his party’s landslide victory in Sunday’s by-elections.
PTI clinched 15 provincial assembly seats out of the 20 up for grabs, dealing a stunning blow to the 13-party alliance led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on its home turf.
According to unofficial and preliminary results, the ruling PML-N could only bag four seats.
Calling Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja “dishonest”, Imran in today’s victory speech asked him to resign as, according to him, free and fair elections cannot take place in the country under his supervision.
“Under this ECP, free and fair election cannot take place. The country’s biggest party does not trust it. I ask CEC to resign. We have no confidence in you. You’re a biased person and connected with a party,” he alleged.
Reflecting on last night’s victory, Imran said, “One cannot become a nation without a philosophy. When this imported government was imposed upon us via foreign conspiracy, people started asking questions… but, now we’re on our way to become a nation”.
The elites of the country have put their money outside Pakistan. Have you ever heard someone doing that in Britain or France of any other country, he asked.
“I thank Allah for the last night’s win. This nation came into being after many sacrifices. Quaide-Azam did not even let his disease known as he knew the opponents might try to delay the Partition.
“We should all be proud of ourselves…. the way people especially youth and women came out to vote, this is Naya Pakistan.”
Commenting on his party’s last tenure at the Centre, he said during the last two years, we had the best growth rate. “All indicators were pointing at the right direction. Large scale manufacturing was on the rise despite Coronavirus pandemic. It decreased unemployment and generated wealth. We had record growth in agriculture. The farmers made record profit. All records were broken in textile sectors. It was hard to find any labour free in Faisalabad. We had record remittances. In IT sector, we recorded a 75% growth.”
The former premier said, “We were with IMF for 2.5 years. We were taking Pakistan towards a welfare state. We introduced health card. Such schemes are not even given in middle income countries, leave alone poor countries.”
He further said that Ehsaas programme was taking Pakistan towards become a welfare state. “We also offered interest-free loans.”
At such a time, he said the PTI-led government was overthrown via “foreign conspiracy”. “I and Shaukat Tareen tried to convince the powerful quarters that if our government was overthrown, the economic crisis would be unmanageable. We went to those who could do something.”
During PPP and PML-N tenures, Imran said, the country’s exports did not increase. “They were only concerned on eliminating their corruption cases. Rs1,100 billion corruption will not be forgiven,” he maintained.
“Today, Pakistan is fourth country which might default. Just like Sri Lanka, we’re going to default. Moody’s has turned our credit rating negative.”
He said Pakistan’s reserves have halved and currency is depreciating. “Rupee should have strengthened after the IMF deal… we will never get out of this financial crisis without political stability,” he maintained.
The PTI chief reiterated that free and transparent elections were the only solution to come out of crises. “The way yesterday’s election was conducted, crisis will even deepen. Punjab government used all tactics and despite Supreme Court’s orders, they used state machinery. Police threatened people. Police became a jiyala (stalwart) of PML-N. It is contempt of SC’s orders.”
He also accused the chief election commissioner of ‘dishonesty’. “Four million people were termed dead and they were taken out of the electoral system. “CEC rejected our pleas, but thankfully the apex court overruled,” he added.
“We do not trust this CEC. We all know money is used in secret ballot and that’s why we wanted an open ballot… [Yousaf Raza] Gilani’s son was caught red-handed in the past.”
Imran said when he left the PM Office, his political opponents thought people will distribute sweets in the streets. Instead, people in came out in large numbers to protest against my ouster, he added.
Imran said PM Shehbaz Sharif and his son – Punjab CM Hamza Shehbaz – were about to be sent to prison soon but they conspired and the same person becomes the prime minister. “This never happens anywhere in the entire world… first you have to get yourself clear and only then you can participate in any election,” he explained.
Commenting on the administration’s high-handedness, the PTI chief said he will never forget the brutality inflicted upon the Azadi marchers. “They tried to make people fearful but still people in huge numbers came out.”
Despite CEC’s effort, the nation defeated them, he said. “Today, people have become aware. Whoever tried to steal people’s mandate, he will be defeated. The nation is going towards achieving real freedom. I have never seen such passion in people… no one should be in delusion that people will accept decisions taken in closed rooms.”
Coming down hard on the unity government, Imran said, “They increased petrol price and later only reduced it by Rs18 per litre. We should only seek fresh elections. We can only take our country towards progress through political stability. We never focused on increasing exports. Overseas Pakistanis are our big asset. They will invest if we get political stability and for that we need free and fair elections.”
Earlier in the day, former prime minister Imran Khan called again for an early national election after his party seized control of the state assembly in Punjab, the country’s most populous province.
“The only way forward from here is to hold free and transparent elections,” Khan tweeted early Monday after the Punjab votes were tallied.
“Any other way will only lead to increased political uncertainty and further economic chaos.”
The only way forward from here is to hold fair & free elections under a credible ECP. Any other path will only lead to greater political uncertainty & further economic chaos.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 17, 2022
Khan has drawn thousands to rallies since being ousted, giving lengthy speeches claiming the government was imposed on Pakistan by a US-led conspiracy.
He also blames the current government for soaring inflation, although most analysts agree Sharif inherited the country’s economic woes — which were given some relief last week by an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to resume a rescue package.
The newspapers suggested the Punjab result was a consequence of the economic hardships currently felt by the country, which is spending nearly half its income to service dire foreign debt.
To meet IMF conditions for a resumption of a $7.2 billion aid package, Sharif had to remove subsidies on fuel — effectively raising prices by more than 50 percent in less than two months.
“A bitter taste of unpopular decisions,” read a headline in the Dawn newspaper over a front-page analysis.
The Punjab Assembly vote was called after the election commission disqualified 20 members of the PTI for switching party loyalties.
The result means the likely end of a short reign as Punjab chief minister by Hamza Sharif, the prime minister’s son.
