Imran Khan Urges IMF for Election Audit Amidst PTI’s Intra-Party Election Plans
Islamabad, Feb 23: Imran Khan, the founding chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is set to write to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), urging an independent audit of the general elections held on Feb 8 before continuing talks with Islamabad, revealed PTI leader Senator Ali Zafar on Thursday.
Speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, where the former premier is currently imprisoned, Mr. Zafar disclosed, “A letter will be issued from him to the International Monetary Fund.” He emphasized the importance of good governance as a condition set by organizations like the IMF and the European Union for providing loans or working in a country.
Zafar expressed concerns over the alleged theft of the people’s mandate during the Feb 8 polls, stating that if elections were not free and fair, organizations would hesitate to provide loans to such a country, further burdening the people.
The PTI’s decision to conduct intra-party elections on March 3 has also been announced. Over six million party members will be allowed to physically cast their votes in five major cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, and Peshawar. Imran Khan has nominated Ali Zafar as the candidate for PTI chairman.
This move follows the rejection of the party’s earlier elections held in Peshawar in December, which resulted in the loss of the party’s election symbol, ‘bat.’ The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Supreme Court upheld the rejection, leading to PTI’s participation in general elections through independent candidates.
The party aims to conduct a fair and transparent intra-party election process, with the scrutiny of nomination papers scheduled for Feb 24 and 25. Election results are expected to be declared by 8 pm on March 3, marking a significant step in PTI’s internal democratic procedures.
Meanwhile, Imran Khan’s sister, Aleema Khan, asserted that PTI would consider dialogue with other political parties if their “stolen seats” were returned. She criticized the judicial system, alleging improper conduct during hearings and expressed dissatisfaction with the denial of her meeting with her incarcerated brother. Aleema Khan called on other parties, including the PML-N, PPP, and MQM-P, to return allegedly wrongfully won seats to initiate discussions with PTI.