Imran criticizes media for keeping people ignorant over national economy,

LAHORE – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday lambasted the current administration, claiming that investors had lost faith in the government due to its policies.

The former prime minister, while speaking to a gathering of his economic team, expressed apprehension that things would spiral out of control. He said he had sought  the help of Hammad Azhar, Hamayun Akthar, Omar Ayub and others to discuss the economic situation. He lamented that the media did not highlight the state of economy.

“We are making all-out efforts to inform people about the economic condition. We’ll explain to people how the nation is struggling to deal with the current predicament and how we can overcome it. The current situation will have effects on key state institutions,” added the former premier.

Citing the Soviet Union’s force, Imran said the Soviet Union’s force was the most powerful army in the world.

The former premier reiterated that the court must play a part if the nation is to avoid a quick decline. Highlighting the contributions made by his government, he said, “The wealthiest people in our time were farmers. Farmers experienced their first-ever record profits. During our time, industries were growing. The industry saw a 10.7% gain in large-scale manufacturing.

Imran Khan said, “The country’s dollar deficit was widening and that we had taken out loans to cover the instalment payments”.

PTI to dissolve Punjab Assembly to start with 

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) decided on Monday that it would dissolve the Punjab Assembly in the initial phase, while the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly would be dissolved in the second phase.

Sources privy to the matter said a significant decision about the dissolution of assemblies and resignations from the National Assembly was made at meeting chaired by PTI Chairman Imran Khan. Initially, the Punjab Assembly would be dissolved. Additionally, the nationwide protest movement would be transformed into an electoral campaign.

Sources said it was resolved at the meeting that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly would be dissolved in the second phase and all the members from Rawalpindi confirmed that they would quit the National Assembly. The lawmakers said the PTI had full confidence in the national and provincial assemblies and that they would frequently participate in Imran Khan’s electoral campaigns because the PDM government’s failed policies had irreparably damaged Pakistan. The lawmakers said it s going through the worst economic crisis, adding that transparent snap elections were the only way to get out of the quagmire.

Verdict in Toshakhana case against Imran Khan on Dec 15

Earlier, a local court  reserved verdict on a petition filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the Toshakhana case against PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

The verdict on the electoral body’s plea will be announced at 2pm on Dec 15. The election commission had moved court for criminal lawsuit proceedings against the former prime minister for alleged corrupt practices.

The ECP had disqualified Mr Khan after founding him guilty of “false statements and an incorrect declaration” in his nomination papers for an election contest. It was stated that the PTI chief had submitted a false affidavit and was found involved in corrupt practices under Article 63(1)(p).

During Monday s hearing, ECP counsel Saad Hassan argued that Imran Khan said he constructed a road with the money he acquired from the Toshakhana gifts but a prime minister was supposed to deposit any gift he received to the state repository. He further told the court that the gifts could be retained after paying 20pc of the gift’s price until the PTI government introduced a new law which allowed taking the Toshakhana gifts after paying 50pc of its price.

“The price of the watch was estimated at Rs85 million,” he said, adding that Mr Khan failed to state the amount for which he sold the Toshakhana watch.