Islamabad (Web Desk): Following the resounding victory in Former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan once again reiterated his demand for free and fair general elections.
On Sunday, the PTI bagged 15 seats of Punjab Assembly in the by-elections held in 20 constituencies, in a teeth-biting contest against the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Addressing the nation a day after the by elections, the former premier thanked the supporters including youngsters and women who came out in large quantities to vote for PTI.
"I believe this is the moment in the history of Pakistan that we should be thankful for because the nation has awakened," he said.
While criticising the incumbent rulers in Punjab and Centre , Imran Khan said that the government’s [machinery] was used against PTI despite the Supreme Court’s order.
"If the next elections take place in such a manner, then political instability will exacerbate, not decrease," he said.
The PTI chief accused the government of interfering in every way.
"They registered FIRs, used police to harass our people, but at the same time, I salute the police officials who did not pay heed to the government’s pressure," Imran Khan said.
Imran Khan added that he “remembers” the name of each and every police officer who was involved in harassing PTI workers “and behaving like the workers of PML-N”.
The PTI chief urged Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikander Sultan Raja to resign accusing him of “incompetence”, and claimed that four million people were shown dead on voter lists.
“But apart from that, he wholeheartedly participated in the polling process to ensure that PML-N wins,” the PTI chairman said.
Khan said that the PTI had “lawful” eight cases, which the ECP, headed by Raja, rejected to hear.
He said that the party then went to the courts to seek justice, where it was served the same. “We do not trust this election commissioner.”
"Despite several cases of rigging during polls being brought before the CEC, he never found anyone guilty, and, as a result, malpractice continued as no one had feared accountability," the PTI chief said.
The former premier said when he left the PM Office, his political opponents thought people will distribute sweets in the streets. Instead, people in came out in large numbers to protest against my ouster, he added.
Imran said PM Shehbaz Sharif and his son Hamza Shehbaz, were about to be sent to prison soon but they conspired and the same person becomes the prime minister. “This never happens anywhere in the entire world… first you have to get yourself clear and only then you can participate in any election,” he explained.
Criticising the incumbent coalition government, the PTI chief said that hey increased petrol price and later only reduced it by Rs18 per litre.
"Our reserves have shrunk by half since PML-N came to power. Despite the agreement with IMF (International Monetary Fund) in sight, our rupee is declining,".
Imran Khan again reiterated that amid these crises, the only way out was free and fair elections.
"But, the next general elections should not be conducted the way by-elections in Punjab were held", the PTI chief asserted.
