Imran Khan vows to clean sweep Punjab by-elections

PTI chief says opponents will lose despite having umpires' backing

Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan claimed on Wednesday that his party would clean sweep the upcoming by-elections in Punjab, and that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) would not be able to secure any seat even with the support of “umpires”.

Addressing a public gathering in Chichawatni, Sahiwal district, the former premier said his party’s candidates would win all 20 seats of the Punjab Assembly on July 17. “I challenge the ‘imported’ government… Whatever you do on July 17, we will win all 20 seats in the by-elections,” he said, adding that the present government had become so unpopular that even if they get the support of the “umpires”, they would not be able to win.

He said that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, former president Asif Ali Zardari, and Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman had been taking turns in the government for the last 30 years but despite all their experience they had broken all records of inflation and made a mess of the economy. “When we criticise them they lodge FIRs against us. They have registered 15 FIRs against me but I tell you even if you register 1,500 FIRs, I will not let you go,” he said.

Imran also said that Zardari had been the biggest illness for the country during the past 30 years, adding that Nawaz was plundering resources of the country despite being in London. “Maryam Nawaz cannot say a single word of truth but she’s getting protocol. The journalists who sell their conscious are looking for the highest bidder,” he added.

Regarding the arrest of anchorperson Imran Riaz, the former premier said that cases were being registered against people who were standing by national ideology.

He also accused the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of supporting the present rulers. He directed his supporters that 10 party workers should remain present at each polling station “to stop rigging”.

Taking a dig at the coalition government’s performance, he said the country’s economy had collapsed from top to bottom in two months. “The [Pakistan] Economic Survey says that the economy has grown in the last two years but [this government] has been imposed on us under an American conspiracy.”

Calling the current rulers “thieves”, the ousted PM said that even those who were standing with them would not be forgiven by the nation. “If you stop the protests then there will be anarchy in the country. The nation does not fear FIRs now. The situation has passed that point.”

On May 20, the ECP had de-seated 25 MPAs of the PTI for defying party directives and voting for Hamza Shehbaz for the post of the Punjab chief minister.

The reference against the dissident lawmakers sent by Punjab Assembly Speaker Parvez Elahi was accepted by the election watchdog for violating Article 63-A, which pertains to defection.

The much-awaited verdict had gained political weightage in the wake of the Supreme Court’s verdict on a presidential reference, seeking its interpretation of Article 63-A, related to the disqualification of lawmakers over defection.

Now, by-elections are being held on PP-7, PP-83, PP-90, PP-97, PP-125, PP-127, PP-140, PP-158, PP-167, PP-168, PP-170, PP-202, PP-217, PP-224, PP-228, PP-237, PP-272, PP-273, PP-282 Layyah and PP-288 seats.

On the other hand, PTI leader Chaudhry Fawad said on Wednesday that his party was ready for a “grand dialogue” but will only come to the table if an election date is announced.”

Talking to reporters in Islamabad, Fawad said, “Every other day, a new scandal of this government is coming to light. There is a solar scandal which should be investigated,” said the PTI leader.

The former information minister claimed that not a single corruption case was filed against any of the ministers belonging to the PTI-led government.

“What happened to Captain (r) Safdar in our tenure was done by the Sindh government. Two journalists were killed in Sindh and cases are being registered against politicians. They want a solution to political problems but the date of election should be given first,” said the PTI leader.

Meanwhile, a lower court of Islamabad on Wednesday extended the interim bail of Imran Khan until July 18 in different first information reports (FIRs).

District and Sessions Judge Kamran Basharrat Mufti heard the petition seeking pre-arrest bail of the PTI chief. The counsel for the petitioner, Dr Baber Awan, appeared before the court and requested it to grant one-time exemption from hearing to his client, Imran Khan. The court accepted the request and extended the interim bail.

Meanwhile, the same court also granted pre-arrest bails to PTI leaders Shah Farman and Shahram Tarkai against surety bonds worth Rs5,000 each.