On Friday, Imran Khan, the founding chairman of PTI and former prime minister, expressed concerns about a potential “dirty election,” emphasizing that it could lead to increased instability in the country. Speaking informally to the media at Adiala jail, where he is currently incarcerated, Imran stated that his party would prefer being in opposition rather than forming a coalition government.
Imran asserted that 90% of soldiers would vote for his party on February 8. He accused former army chief Gen (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa of orchestrating his ouster and claimed that Bajwa, in a meeting at The President’s Secretariat, had mentioned that “the entire army was with you,” blaming Bajwa’s decisions for causing harm to Pakistan. However, Imran clarified that the entire institution should not be held responsible for the events.
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Emphasizing the need for free and fair elections, Imran mentioned that he had been advocating for them since March 19, 2023. He admitted that his first mistake was forming the government and that he should have opted for re-elections. Imran also criticized the extension of Gen (retd) Bajwa’s tenure as his second mistake.
Imran stated that it would be more beneficial for the party to sit in opposition than form a coalition government, as a “dirty election” could lead to increased instability. He highlighted the necessity for reforms to address economic deficits and ensure the rule of law.
Imran criticized Nawaz Sharif for participating in the upcoming elections and questioned the PML-N’s performance during its 16 months in power. He specifically pointed out the economic challenges during the tenure of Nawaz’s younger brother, Shehbaz Sharif, citing a significant outflow of professionals, economic suffering, and a substantial increase in Pakistan’s external deficit.
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