PTI chief Imran reiterates call for early elections

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CHITRAL: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has reasserted his demand for early elections in a bid to eradicate corruption from the country.

Imran stated this while speaking to the media after attending a public gathering in upper Chitral. He was accompanied by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak and PTI Secretary General Jahangir Tareen.

PTI chief further claimed that when there are doubts over a government’s mandate, the call for elections was not against the democracy.

Imran quoted instances from different countries, saying Theresa May of UK and Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey called elections in their respective countries as the process strengthens democracy.

“There is no such thing as a government in the country. It will be more beneficial for the public if elections are held sooner. The money that should be spent on the public is used in corruption. The nation will not accept a third NRO [National Reconciliation Ordinance],” he said.

He came down hard on the Pakistan Muslim League–Nawaz (PML-N) government stating, “Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi went to England to sort out the matter of his personal airline; Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif went to London to meet Abbasi whereas Finance Minister Ishaq Dar is lying on a hospital’s bed. No one is concerned or worried about the country.”

Commenting on the alliance between the Muttahida Qaumi Movement–Pakistan and Pak Sarzameen Party, Imran opined that there was no conspiracy behind the move as the two parties feel they cannot get mandate independently.

Criticising the former chairperson of National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Imran said that he should be punished for helping thieves protect their illegal assets.

He notified that India is carrying out terrorism in Pakistan through Afghanistan. “The nation has to stand with the army against terrorism,” he said.

Talking about the smog situation in the country, he said that environmental pollution is a serious problem which is having adverse effects on health and crops.

After coming back from Chitral, PTI supremo had a meeting with the senior leadership of the party.

Later, he had a meeting with British Minister of State for Asia and Pacific Marc Field.

The two discussed matters of mutual interest.

PTI chairman also condemned the blast in Quetta and expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives and prayed for eternal peace of the departed souls.

“Another outstanding police officer, Hamid Shakeel, martyred today in the condemnable Quetta blast. Prayers go to all the families of the victims. We must resolutely fight this menace of terrorism across the country,” he said in a tweet afterwards.