In a major development, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Saturday announced the dissolution of assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on December 23 (Friday).
The announcement by the PTI chief – who was accompanied by Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan – came during a video link address to party workers and supporters from his residence in Lahore’s Zaman Park. .
In response, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira reiterated that the government’s position still stands – elections to dissolved assemblies and by-elections to vacant constituencies.
Before Imran released the date, there were reports of CM Elahi not supporting the PTI chief’s decision, but the chief minister denied the rumors and vowed that he would “Imran Khan”. will support all decisions of
In today’s address, Imran thanked the two chief ministers for “sacrificing” their respective governments for the “betterment of the country” and announced that his party would now begin its election campaign.
He also warned the government against using tactics to delay the elections, saying: “I have also spoken to my lawyers […] delaying the elections past 90 days would be against the rules.”
“Pakistan’s constitution dictates that the ECP should always be ready to hold elections within 90 days. I know he will try his best not to,” he said.
Imran said the “struggle must not stop” and would hit the streets once he recovers from the injuries sustained during the November 3 Wazirabad assassination.
“Once we get out of the assemblies, 66 percent of Pakistan will go to the polls,” he said, adding that a survey showed that 70 percent of the nation wanted snap polls.
Further criticizing the ruling coalition for allegedly delaying the elections, the PTI chief said: “The government will not even hold elections in October [2023].”
Imran criticized the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja without naming them, saying, “The Election Commission is colluding with them, a very dishonest person is involved with them. , which will tell them ways to delay the elections.” .
‘Remove prediction’
The PTI chief added that he was “a harbinger of the downfall of his government” and knew that some elements wanted to impose Shahbaz Sharif as prime minister.
“General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa told me that he didn’t want it to happen (Shahbaz becoming prime minister). So who is responsible? Will someone tell me? General (rt) Bajwa will tell me that [the current Ruler] Corrupt.”
ہماری حکومت گرا کر چوروں کو بیٹھا دیا بجائے یہ کہ آپ ٹھیک کریں ہم پر ظلم شروع ہوگیا سوشل میڈیا کہ لوگوں کو اٹھایا گیا اعظم سواتی شہباز گل پر ظلم کیا گیا۔چیئرمین عمران خان #لیکر_رہیں_گے_آزادی pic.twitter.com/zp4AdKCxPr
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 17, 2022
But refusing to concede defeat, Imran said the Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) move to oust him was “in my favour” as he had received “unparalleled honour”.
“General (retd) Bajwa believed that the prime minister and Ishaq Dar were intelligent and would take over the country,” the PTI chairman said, adding that Khan’s party was in danger after the former army chief was toppled. I felt the support of the nation.
The former prime minister added that his party’s popularity rose after April, after his government was ousted by a no-confidence motion brought by the then opposition.
He said that even during the reign of General (R) Musharraf, we did not see the cruelty that General (R) Bajwa did to us.
The former prime minister added that corruption worth crores of rupees was “forgiven” by the current leaders – and that is why they wanted to cling to power.
The former prime minister said he was informed about the threat to his life when he was leaving for the march. “Who would risk his life for money or power?” Khan asked.
Development of Pakistan under the leadership of PTI
At the beginning of his address, the PTI chief said that he wanted to tell the people why he had decided to dissolve the assemblies of the two provinces where his party was ruling.
“In this country, unless there are free and fair elections […] there will be fears that the country may sink.”
Imran said he had provided the courts with all the details about his assets just like any common man in Pakistan – unlike those who “looted” public money and transferred it abroad.
“All their money, business and children are abroad, they are living a luxurious life in Pakistan by looting the nation’s money,” Imran said, claiming that he never thought he would be anywhere but Pakistan. can live
The PTI chief said that for the first time in his life, he was “scared” that the “corrupt gangs” in the country were leading the nation to ruin. “You can ask any industrialist, laborer and farmer; their finances are unmanageable in the current economic situation.”
تیس سال سے جو ملک کو لوٹ رہے تھے سب کو پاک اور صاف کردیا لوگ دیکھ رہے ہیں ایک طرف قوم مہنگائی سے مر رہی ہے دوسری طرف ان کی اربوں کی کرپشن معاف ہورہی ہے۔چیئرمین عمران خان
— PTI (@PTIofficial) December 17, 2022
#آرہا_ہے_الیکشن pic.twitter.com/EAn6frMnLK
The former prime minister claimed that after the current government came to power, Pakistan saw the highest inflation in 50 years. “They washed away all our hard work.”
The PTI chief mentioned that the economy, including industry, taxation, exports and agriculture, got a boost during his party’s rule, which lasted for nearly four years.
‘More than 750,000 people’ left Pakistan.
“But this government has not been able to develop even in one sector. Looking at the situation in the country, more than 750,000 people have gone abroad,” Imran said, criticizing the ruling coalition.
Expressing regret, the former prime minister said that lakhs of people who left Pakistan were skilled workers and their deprivation will harm the country in the long run.
Imran further lamented that his government – which was ousted in April – had worked hard to revive the economy which had collapsed in 2018 when the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) left the government. So it was on the verge of default.
The PTI chief mentioned that the progress seen under his party was last seen during the three previous regimes namely former military dictators General Ayub Khan, General Zia-ul-Haq and General Pervez Musharraf.
“All these development goals were achieved because we were hand in hand with America on many fronts. So who was behind this whole regime change operation? Why were these corrupt elements brought to power?”
Imran said that foreign direct investment, remittances, taxes and exports have decreased. “Foreign investors don’t trust the government. Because we don’t have dollars to pay the energy debts, the foreign debt […]. They have no plan except to borrow from China.”
He said that loans are not enough because it is like treating cancer with aspirin. “The only solution is wealth creation. If you create wealth, you can make sure you don’t have to beg for loans next time.”
Blaming the coalition government for ruining the country’s economy, Khan said: “If they had managed the economy well, we would have been fine with them to complete the term, but the country is heading towards recession. “Everything is collapsing in the country. I fear [Pakistan] is heading towards default.”
