Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday said that he will lead the party’s re-election campaign himself if PTI members are de-seated from the National Assembly.
“I will recommend my party not to return to the assemblies. I want to make it clear; accept our resignations and I will lead the party’s election campaign myself. We will lead an excellent (re-election) campaign. In fact, this is the time,” Khan said while talking to journalists after a meeting of his party.
The PTI chief argued that the government should decide whether it was with the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) and Jamiat Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) on removing his party members from NA. He criticised MQM and JUI-F for their policies, which were “only aimed at defaming his party, and not for strengthening democracy”.
In a rare show of unity, the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the main opposition Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Monday had blocked a move to unseat 33 federal lawmakers of Imran Khan’s PTI for their absence from the Lower House of Parliament for more than 40 days.
About his stance on the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Khan reiterated that after the poll enquiry verdict, the election authority members had no moral authority to remain in office.
A three-judge enquiry commission probing into allegations of systematic rigging in the 2013 General Elections rejected last month the PTI’s allegations of organised rigging during elections.
Meanwhile, about elections within his party, Khan said polls would be held soon after local government elections were held in Sindh and Punjab.
“The party’s election commission is taking into account all our shortcomings. Soon we will announce a membership campaign,” he said.
While rejecting claims there was a “mafia” within the PTI, Khan said every party had groupings, but what mattered was merit. “We were taking a presentation today to make PTI a merit-based party. Party’s new constitution is also being prepared,” he said.