By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan urged the International Monetary Fund to demand an independent audit of the country’s disputed Feb. 8 election before resuming talks with the incoming government, his lawyer said.
Khan, who leads the largest party in parliament but fell short of a majority, wrote a letter to the IMF asking it to condition any further financial assistance on a probe of the vote, which he claims was rigged, Ali Zafar told reporters on Thursday outside the prison where Khan is serving a seven-year sentence for corruption.
The IMF, which approved a $3 billion bailout for Pakistan last year, said it’s not going to comment on political developments and that it looks forward to working with the new administration on policies to ensure economic stability and prosperity.
Pakistan, which has a $350 billion economy, avoided default last summer thanks to the IMF lifeline, but the program expires next month and a new government will have to negotiate a long-term arrangement.
An alliance of Khan’s rival parties has more seats in parliament and is in a position to form the next government.
“The letter from Imran Khan will say clearly that if the IMF wants to talk to Pakistan, they should place conditions of an independent audit of the polls,” Zafar said. “Multilateral agencies such as the IMF and international blocs such as the European Union can only give financial assistance on the condition that there is good governance and democracy, including free and fair elections.”
Pakistan’s election commission denies widespread rigging and is hearing complaints by various applicants who allege irregularities. The IMF met with political parties last year to seek assurances of their support of key objectives and policies under the bailout program.
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