Former Prime Minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Isaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Thursday launched a “distancing campaign” against judges in an attempt by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to delay the vote at any cost. We urge the Judiciary to ensure that the Constitution is upheld and elections are opened in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Addressing supporters and workers via a video link from his residence at Zaman Park in Lahore, Imran said the constitution clearly states that elections must be held within 90 days of the dissolution of parliament. I reminded the judiciary that it exists. He asked the judiciary to resist the pressures of the regime and the “Sharif and Zardari mafia”.
He said: “This is a decisive moment in the history of the country. Either the neutrals will put pressure on the judiciary or the two mafia families, Sharif and Zardari.”
His comments came shortly after PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz blamed a “five-member cabal” for Pakistan’s ongoing political and economic crisis. The group is said to include current and former Supreme Court judges and General (retired) Faiz Hamed, former chief of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).
In his speech, Imran accused PML-N of a history of attacking and bribing the loyalists of judges. He also claimed that Prime Minister Shabaz Sharif is in control of the interim establishment in Punjab.
According to Imran, the only way to save the country from the current crisis is to hold elections. He also criticized the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Election Commission, alleging that they were under the orders of PML-N leaders and opposed to the PTI.
Imran also hailed his party’s “Zindan Balu Tilik” (Movement to Fill Jails), which he said showed that Tehreek-e-Insaf workers are not afraid of jail. He lamented that people who have been voluntarily arrested are being treated like criminals and are being taken to different jails in Punjab.
The head of Tehreek-e-Insaf criticized Prime Minister Shehbaz for saying that the deal with the International Monetary Fund will lead to a further increase in inflation and asked people if they are ashamed and how they will deal with it.
Imran said that if PTI is not in the country,
