Former Prime Minister and Chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has urged the judiciary to ensure that the Constitution is upheld and pave the way for elections in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, adding that his leaders and workers are being treated as terrorists in the jails who surrendered before the authorities during Jail Bharo Tehreek.
Addressing his supporters via video link from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore, Imran accused the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party of attacking judges in an attempt to delay the polls at any cost.
Imran claimed in his speech that the PML-N has a history of undermining and purchasing the loyalty of judges. Additionally, he claimed that Shehbaz Sharif was in charge of Punjab’s caretaker government.
Imran reminded the judiciary that the Constitution makes it explicit that elections must be held 90 days after the assembly is dissolved. He asked the judiciary to buck the “Sharif and Zardari mafia” and the establishment.
“This is a defining moment in the country’s history. Either the neutrals pressurize judiciary or these two mafia families Sharif and Zardari,” he said.
According to Imran, the only way to lift the country out of its current crisis is to hold elections. He also criticized the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and caretakers, claiming that they were taking orders from PML-N leaders and were against the PTI.
Moreover, Imran praised his party’s “Jail Bharo Tehreek” (fill prison movement), saying it demonstrates the PTI members’ lack of fear of prisons. He bemoaned the fact that those who voluntarily came forward for arrest were treated like criminals and transported to various prisons in Punjab.
The PTI leader criticized PM Shehbaz for saying that an IMF agreement would cause inflation to grow even more, and questioned whether the PM had any shame or if he had ever questioned the populace about how they were getting by.
