Fair polls impossible under Zardari: Imran

Ruling out any alliance with ‘corrupt and dishonest’ parties, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan Tuesday said fair elections could not be expected in a caretaker government under President Asif Ali Zardari.
Addressing a press conference called to condemn the killing of three protesters in a police action in Mianwali, Imran Khan said a neutral caretaker government was the only way out to ensure transparent election.
“How fair elections can be expected when Zardari is at the helm of the affairs”, Imran said, adding that all the by-elections and polls for AJK Legislative Assembly established the fact of rigging and use of state machinery in the electoral process.
Replying to a question regarding the PML-N’s attempt to form a grand opposition alliance, Imran said the PTI had so far received no formal invitation for the purpose.
“When we demanded for alliance of all parties to get rid of the present government, we were told that it would pave way for military and the PML-N acted to save the government”, Imran remarked.
When asked about what would be his likely reaction if invited to grand alliance by the PML-N, Imran said, “If we are invited to become a part of the alliance, we will ask the PML-N to clarify our certain serious doubts…explain if the grand alliance is for destroying or retaining the status quo?” “When we talked of midterm elections and removal of the present government, the PML-N said we were playing to the tune of the agencies. Now I ask the PML-N to explain what changes have come about which justifies its call for a grand alliance and unjustified our demand.”
He said the PTI had been consistently stating that the present NRO-manufactured government was destroying state institutions and causing irreparable damage to the economy and the people were left with only democratic option of midterm elections.
Imran also claimed that the PML-N was presenting the idea of grand alliance in a bid to salvage its fast dwindling popularity.
Imran said his party would prefer to have an alliance with the old partners who had boycotted the elections, adding that the PTI would not align itself with any party whose members did not pay taxes and declare assets honestly.