Imran Khan says won’t dissolve assemblies if elections held by March

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan said the government should announce to hold elections by March next year or they will dissolve the provincial assemblies.

The former prime minister gave an interview with BOL News senior anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan where he spoke on his relationship with the previous military leadership during the regime change when he was ousted from power and the dealing with coalition government.

Regarding his offer to hold talks with the coalition government, the former prime minister said he knows the Sharif family for forty years and their only motive is to loot the nation, sent the money abroad and then receive an NRO to waive off their corruption.

He said the Sharif family was unable to control the army and confronted them. He said even PML-N’s Miftah Ismail and Ishaq Dar were squabbling with each other on the state of the economy as the country heads towards a default.

“Those main responsible are who imposed these rulers on us,” he said, adding that the economy is going down in a downward spiral and elections are the only solutions as they are heading for dissolution of the assemblies.

Message to new military leadership

Imran Khan was asked on claims by PML-Q leader Moonis Elahi that they supported the PTI on the directives of former army chief Gen (retired) Qammar Javed Bajwa during the no-confidence motion.

He replied that it was his greatest weakness to trust Gen Bajwa. “We received different signals but they claimed to be neutral and assured they wanted continuity,” he said.

He said that instructions were sent that bringing his government down will lead to economic instability. Instead, he said the allies told him that a message was received “to switch over to the other side.”

Imran Khan said he eventually sent a message that he will go to the public and seek their support. He said the people supported him after witnessing the atrocities meted out to last seven months.  “I asked them on which side they were. I told them that if they were on the other side, then I will have a different strategy,” he added.

He said a message has been sent to the new military establishment and President Alvi has also delivered their message.  “What happened in the past seven months? Did the party crash? Today we have such support that no party ever held in history. Even Bhutto didn’t have the support we have today,” he claimed.

Elections by March

Regarding the conditional talks offer with the government, he said the only discussion will be announcing the date for general elections. He said 66 percent of the seats will vacated and the best option is holding general elections.

He said the party can wait till March next year to hold general elections and will decide to dissolve assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa this month.

“If they are ready for elections by the end of March, then we won’t dissolve the assemblies. Otherwise, we want to conduct polls by dissolving the KP and Punjab assemblies,” he added.

He added that his party won’t agree on a date after March and assemblies will be dissolved this month [December] if the government disagrees.

He said CM Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has given him the authority to dissolve the assembly. However, he did answer whether a written summary had been given to him by the chief minister.

When asked about attempts by PPP chairperson Asif Ali Zardari to control the situations, he aid that the “game” is no longer in the hands of Zardari as Chaudhry Pervez Elahi stands with the PTI. He also shared that he will be meeting party lawmakers from KP and Punjab in the next four to five days.

Extension to Gen Bajwa

He said it was a mistake to give an extension to former army chief General (retired) Bajwa. He said extensions should not be given in the military but the situation was otherwise and they had no option.

Regarding the situation of PTI Senator Azam Swati, the PTI Chairman said he was disappointed that no action was taken by the court. He said they judiciary should look at the injustice and take notice as people have trust in them.

He said they have approached the Supreme Court regarding the case of Azam Swati, Arshad Sharif’s murder and assassination attack on him.

When asked about claims by PML-N London spokesperson Tasneem Haider, he said those wanting to remove him from the way were those who loot the nation and sent the money abroad. He vowed to confront the PML-N and PPP during the next elections.

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