STAFF REPORT
LAHORE: Pakistan’s former prime minister and Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan on Saturday, announced to dissolve Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial assemblies on coming Friday, December 23, 2022, to pave the way for an early election in the country.
While addressing PTI workers and party leaders at Lahore’s Liberty Chowk, flanked by Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Mahmood Khan, Imran Khan said that after dissolving the Punjab and KP provincial assemblies, PTI would launch campaign for the next general elections.
Imran thanked the Chief Ministers of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for their cooperation. He said he had consulted his party lawyers about the move to dissolve the provincial assemblies and said the Constitution allows elections to be held within 90 days after an assembly’s dissolution.
Imran said the country needed “fresh free, fair, and transparent elections due to the current situation.”
Imran Khan claimed that the country’s economy was growing during his regime despite COVID-19 restrictions. He asked why the PTI government was toppled when the country’s economy was progressing. Who was behind the regime change operation? Who is responsible for the economic vows of Pakistan? Imran Khan questioned.
KP, Punjab Assemblies’ dissolution to pave way for election: PTI Chief
While addressing PTI workers and party leaders at Lahore’s Liberty Chowk, flanked by Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi and Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Mahmood Khan, Imran Khan claimed that during his regime, Pakistan’s wealth was increasing after 17 years.
“Our economy and industry were progressing during COVID-19 restrictions, whereas the world’s economy had suffered a major setback during the pandemic,” Imran Khan maintained.
Imran Khan said that he feared the country’s economy was drowning. He said that over 0.7 million people had left Pakistan for employment. He warned that the country would suffer major loss if a fresh election were not called.
Imran Khan said inflation and unemployment were rising, and foreign confidence in Pakistan had eroded, which has led to the drying up of investments. “Country’s loans keep on increasing. One way to solve this was to improve the country’s wealth.
Imran said free and fair elections were the only solution to these problems and said the government was “afraid” of new elections due to the fear of losing.
Imran Khan also expressed concern that the incumbent government might not conduct general elections even in October 2023.
Imran Khan once again raised the question of who was actually responsible for the country’s current affairs. “Only one man is responsible. I did not speak out against him because he was the country’s military chief,” Imran Khan added.
“We want a strong army, so we kept quiet and looked at how the conspiracy unfolded.”
Imran Khan claimed the former army chief had decided to remove PTI from the government.
The former prime minister also mentioned his audio leaks and said he was the prime minister and his phone calls were tapped.
Imran Khan claimed that according to an opinion survey, 70 percent of the people demanded early elections. He said that PTI had attempted to convince the government about it through its second long march.
