By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan again stopped short of announcing a date for his planned protest march to the capital Islamabad, as he gave the coalition government more time to announce snap polls.
He, however, said the long march against the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government would not be delayed beyond October.
Khan’s latest remarks on elections came a day after his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won six out of eight National Assembly seats in by-elections that Khan has described as a referendum on his popularity.
“I am giving them time…and will announce a long march any time, which will definitely be held in October. This protest will be very different and nobody will be able to control the masses once they are on the roads,” Khan told a news conference in Islamabad on Monday.
“… You still have time, don’t destroy the country to save yourself, this is the time for you to announce elections.”
Khan accused his political rival and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif of attempting to delay elections, saying elder Sharif is afraid to go to polls because of the PTI’s constantly growing popularity.
Khan, who was ousted in a parliamentary vote of no-confidence vote in April, has since held rallies around the country to pressure the government to announce early elections. Sharif has rejected his demand, saying elections will be held on time in late 2023.
The planned long march will be Khan’s second major rally, after the first one, known as the “Azadi Rally,” which he had called on May 25, was abruptly called off at the last minute after his party workers arrived at the federal capital.
Khan, however, has continued his dominant electoral streak after being removed from office.
With eight National Assembly seats up for grabs in Sunday’s by-elections – three each in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces and two in Karachi, the PTI contested seven and won six. Candidates of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), part of the ruling alliance, won the other two seats.
The seats Pakistanis voted for on Sunday were vacated when PTI MPs resigned en masse after Khan and his government were removed. The PTI earlier swept provincial by-polls in Punjab in July, when it won 15 out of 20 seats.
Meanwhile, the coalition partners in the government have rejected the demand of the PTI chief to hold early elections in the country, saying that no group will be allowed to dictate the government.
In a joint statement, the coalition parties said elections will be held on time in consultation with the ruling alliance. “No group in the country will be allowed to impose its decision through the use of force and take the law into its hands.”
The statement further said that Prime Minister Sharif will decide about the appointment of the new army chief in accordance with the law without any pressure through foreign-funded, intimidation, threats, and dictation.
“The aim of targeting the army chief, leadership of sensitive institutions, officers, chief election commissioner, and others is blackmailing which is definitely not a political act but a part of a conspiracy that will not be allowed to succeed. It is clear in the constitution and law that appointment to other positions including army chief is the constitutional authority of the Prime Minister.”
Khan, on Monday media briefing, reiterated that the new army chief should be appointed on merit, asserting that the coalition government should not be allowed to appoint the next head of the powerful army.
Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa would retire on November 29 and his successor is expected to be announced by MP Sharif who is legally authorized to appoint the army chief.
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