Imran wants KP governor replaced, cites threat to free and fair elections

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has demanded the governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) be replaced, stating that the process of free and fair elections would be threatened if the latter continued to hold office.

In a letter to caretaker Prime Minister Justice (r) Nasirul Mulk, Imran has written that the role of KP Governor Iqbal Zafar Jhagra is questionable on different levels.

The PTI chief has pointed out that Jhagra continues to hold financial administrative powers over the now-defunct Federally Administered Tribal Areas. Imran added that Jhagra also continues to intervene in the political affairs of the region especially by controlling the financial strings and also played a partisan role in the politics of entire KP.

Secondly, Imran has stated that the KP governor is among the bureaucrats appointed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), all of whom are allegedly covertly seeking to influence the outcome of 2018General Elections.

Moreover, Imran added, the bureaucrats appointed by PML-N and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in Punjab and Sindh respectively are making sure there is no space left in the field for any other political party.

The PTI chief also stated that the caretaker governments of respective provinces are moving at an extremely slow pace to rectify the situation.

Therefore, he said, direct and immediate action should be taken to replace Jhagra and remove other anomalies that would hinder the process of free and fair elections.