Imran calls for early elections in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday demanded early elections in the country, saying that taking a fresh mandate is necessary to strengthen democracy in the state.

Imran was addressing a press conference in the federal capital on Sunday. 

Incumbent Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has also been alleged to be involved in corruption in LNG sector, he claimed, adding no one in the world can think about making a disqualified person the head of any political party. 

Reacting to Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif's controversial statement, in which he said that Pakistan must bring its house in order to prevent facing embarrassment on the international level, Imran asked: "Did the government realise today that they have to bring their house in order?"

He also asked the federal government why haven't they put the house in order in the last four years?

They [Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leaders] are giving Pakistan Army a bad name, said Imran. 

He further claimed, "All political parties agreed on the National Action Plan."

"We had no foreign minister when our policy towards Afghanistan was formulated," he said. 

Over PTI's defeat in NA-120 by-poll, which was held on September 17, Imran said that it is embarrassing that a disqualified person is still the leader of a party. 

"It is saddening to hear Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi say that Nawaz is his PM."

We are scared regarding the situation in the country, he said, adding that the country's economy is in a harrowing condition. 

Criticising the government, Imran said that no one has taken as many loans as the incumbent government. “More loans are being taken to repay previous debts.”

The advertisements show prosperity in the country, however loans were being taken by the current government, he remarked.

He also demanded that the National Accountability Bureau chairperson should put former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. “We want a new chairperson for NAB,” he added.  

On the Electoral Reforms Bill 2017, which was passed in the Senate on September 22, he remarked that the bill seeks to ridicule the democracy. 

The bill also enables the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to scrutinise election expenses within 90 days, failing which election expenses submitted by a political party would be deemed to be correct.

The bill also states that any parliamentary could only be disqualified for a period of five years.

Moreover, it states that ECP will be an independent and autonomous body, which will formulate its own law and party funding details will be available online.

The bill restricts the caretaker government from making any policy decisions.

Govt, PPP oppose call for snap elections

The government and Pakistan People's Party both rejected Khan's demand of snap elections in the country.

"Election in the country will take place at their due time," State Minister Talal Chaudhry said, adding the PTI chief has repeatedly been disqualified by "people's court."

PPP's Qamar Zaman Kaira said his party was not in favour of early elections and maintained that assemblies should complete their term.