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LAHROE: The Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has categorically stated that he has no relationship with the new Army Chief Gen Asim Munir, predicting that the general elections would be held in April 2023.
In an interview to BBC, Imran Khan was asked if he was ready to talk with the present government on economy and betterment of the country, to which he said “this government came through auction, not election, till to date, which political leader has come who overthrows his own government which constitutes 70% of Pakistan?”
Imran Khan alleged that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif led governmental set up came to power through horse-trading, by way of buying people at the cost of Rs.20 crores to 25 crores, adding that “former Army Chief General Bajwa helped them to impose upon us.”
He said the rulers got quashed Rs.1100 billion of corruption cases against themselves. He said “our economy has been ruined, the economic conditions of Pakistan has never been this much worst what we are witnessing today.”
Imran Khan said there is only one solution (to current problems) that is fair and transparent elections, adding that “as long as there are no elections in Pakistan, no investor, entrepreneur from within has faith in them. No one from outside trusts them.”
He said “we are drowning in a swamp, free and fair election is the only solution to avoid a situation like that of Sri Lanka. For this reason, we have brought down our two (provincial) governments.”
When asked as to why he wanted to exert pressure on the government when several federal ministers had announced that the NA would complete its term, Imran Khan said “the difference is that they (present government) have flouted the supremacy of the law, they have placed themselves above the law. All theft (and corruption) has been forgiven. These were the cases that were made in their own tenures.”
He further said “Shebaz, Nawaz, Zardari and Maryam, all stand saved (from corruption cases) and all cases against them stand quashed, as long as they want, they aim to quash their cases.”
Imran Khan said “right at this moment, even two months seem too far. You said August (but) I am talking about now, our economy declining, we are left with 4 billion dollars in reserves, imported items worth 4 billion stuck at the port which are not being cleared, things are getting expensive, rising unemployment, factories are closing down.”
Imran Khan predicted that come what may, this (federal) government would be left with no option but to go into elections in April.
According to BBC, Imran Khan alleged “the Establishment tried its best to pressurize CM Punjab Pervaiz Elahi to become CM of PMLN, or not to dissolve provincial assembly, but since we had decided to go ahead with the dissolution of assembly, but he (Elahi) showed loyalty and we had to reciprocate by merging them (PMLQ) into PTI.
