PTI chief continues tirade against ex-army chief,

LAHORE _ PTI Chairman Imran Khan predicted on Saturday that the general election could be held in the country in March or April 2023.

The former prime minster has been calling for early elections in the country since his ouster through a no-confidence vote in April last. For this, he has also announced dissolution of the assemblies in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where his party is in power. However, the ruling PDM has not budged from its position that polls would be held on time.

Speaking to senior journalists at his Zaman Park residence in Lahore, Mr Khan said Punjab Chief Minister Parvez Elahi was on his side and he still had trust in him. He lashed out at the PPP and the PML-N, stating that they had nothing except horse-trading of lawmakers. He asserted that economic and political stability was linked to fresh elections, adding that he would not make any compromise for coming into power.

He also continued his criticism of former army chief retired Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa. “I came to know in the last year of my government that Gen Bajwa did not want accountability in the country,” he alleged, adding that Mr Bajwa had made a deal with PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. He also alleged that the Election Commission of Pakistan was “controlled” by the Establishment.

The PTI chief said his party’s lawmakers would go to the National Assembly on Monday to verify their resignations.

X Army Chief had “struck” a deal with Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

The PTI chief recently admitted that granting an extension to Gen (retd) Bajwa was a “mistake” and had also accused the ex-army chief of “betraying” him. Also, in a conversation with journalists yesterday, he revealed that he was not in contact with the establishment “for now”.

As the PTI presses the government on holding snap polls across the country, Imran predicted that he sees elections taking place in either March or April.

He also added that PTI’s members of the National Assembly would appear before Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf to confirm their resignations on Monday (December 26).

The government, however, has repeatedly ruled out holding early elections citing several reasons, including floods, and said they might take place in October 2023.

“We will also remain allies with the Q-League (Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid) as they have stood by us,” the PTI chief said as the political turmoil in Punjab persists.

“I will not inflict pain on the masses for remaining in power. Once I form my government again, I will not compromise on anything,” the PTI chief said.

Taking a swipe at Minister for Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, he said that the Bhutto scion has gone on more visits abroad than he did during his three-and-a-half-years in tenure.

“Also, if he is claiming that he is paying for foreign trips through his pocket, then are these his private visits?” he wondered.

He berated the PPP and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) for getting “foreign funds” and “not having” receipts for them. “We have a database of 40,000 donors.”