Without impartial elections, Imran Khan threatens more turmoil in Pakistan
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 21th Jan. In the lead-up to the general elections on February 8, Pakistan’s imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan has called for fair and impartial polling, claiming that unfair practices will result in additional “instability and uncertainty”.
The 71-year-old founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party made these comments on Saturday during an unofficial media conference at the Adiala Jail.
During the virtual event, there were significant disruptions for internet users. The former cricket player turned politician stated that the PTI is having trouble running its campaign because of laws that prohibit the party from hosting events for the general public.
He added that the PTI candidates “are being harassed and detained” by the government in order to prevent them from running for office. According to the Dawn newspaper, he also threatened to conduct fair polls in the event that additional “instability and uncertainty” resulted.
Because the party “has roots in the masses,” Khan claimed that the elite could not “dismantle the party.”
‘Turncoats’ would lose their political career if they left the PTI, he cautioned them. Additionally, Khan asserted that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) purposefully postponed the PTI’s intra party elections in order to implement “a stern and sudden action” that would strip the political party of its electoral symbol.
The PTI’s famous “bat” election symbol was taken away from it by Pakistan’s Supreme Court on January 13. As a result, party candidates will now have to run as independents.
This decision follows an ongoing legal battle between the PTI and the ECP on the electoral symbol and the rejection of internal party polls. Khan mentioned that President Arif Alvi had tried to intervene but had failed, referring to the administration’s attempts to defuse the political tension.
The PTI founder warned that attempts to impose a “absconder” on the nation will cause “irreparable loss,” referring to his adversary Nawaz Sharif.
According to Khan, Sharif called off his Layyah protest because his party lacked the capacity to put on a powerful demonstration.
Just a few days before the polls, Khan declared that even if he was released from prison, the PTI would organize the “biggest ever” assembly. “Everyone will see what we can achieve if you set me free for just three days before the election and allow me to hold one public gathering,” Khan reportedly said, according to The Express Tribune.
Speaking about his legal cases, he stated that the order in the matter had not been disclosed even after the Lahore High Court had decided his plea over the rejection of nomination papers.
Concerning the selective application of justice, Imran further drew attention to the fact that Sharif was exonerated of all charges while he was disqualified.
He emphasized the apparent absence of democracy in the nation and questioned the reasons behind the delays in considering appeals against his disqualification. He mentioned that he had another petition concerning human rights breaches that had been sitting with the Supreme Court for a while.
Even though Khan maintained that there was no rule of law in the nation, he would “play till the last ball” as a politician and would not enforce the law himself.
