Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former premier Imran Khan on Tuesday warned of ‘Sri Lanka-like crisis’ in Pakistan if the authorities fail to organise transparent by-polls in Punjab.
Imran was addressing a huge public gathering in Layyah in connection with the electioneering for the forthcoming Punjab by-polls.
“I want to give a message to the power matrix that they are peaceful people. They take to the streets for saving the country. In case of failure to organise free and fair elections, the country would witness Sri Lanka-like crisis. If our country sees Sri Lanka-like situation, then no one can control it.”
The PTI chairman asked the authorities concerned to act responsibly to avoid creating such a crisis in the country by organising transparent by-polls in Punjab. “This will be your first test on July 17, which will gauge the support of the nation.”
While censuring the present government, Imran Khan said, “Not even an enemy can destroy our stabilising economy the way these rulers have. The remittances are also decreasing due to these rulers. These rulers are heading the country to Sri Lanka-like crisis.”
He added, “In Sri Lanka, the nationals attacked the presidential palace and the Sri Lankan president was stopped at the airport when he tried to flee abroad. The ruler of Sri Lanka was also like Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari whose residence is in a foreign country.”
He also accused PML-N leader Ahsan Iqbal of using intelligence agencies to pressure and extract an apology out of a family that had heckled him at a restaurant last week.
Separately, addressing a rally in Bhakkar, Imran claimed that the coalition parties had not come to reduce inflation but to abolish the corruption cases registered against them. He said he would not accept the “thieves” in power even if he lost his life.
