Former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that he is ready for simultaneous polls if the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) dissolves all assemblies before May 14 — the date Supreme Court has set for Punjab’s polls.
Imran Khan has warned those who defy the Constitution. He expressed gratitude for the participation of people in the Labor Day rally organized by his party in Lahore.
Criticising the ruling parties, Khan said that they will only hold polls after seeing an opportunity to get victorious and removing Imran Khan from their path. “They want to jail Imran Khan or kill him. They attacked Pervaiz Elahi’s home like dacoits after they attacked my home and arrested PTI workers.”
The PTI chief announced that they will take to the streets if anyone tries to break the Constitution and go against the Supreme Court (SC). “We will not be silent if anyone goes against the Constitution.”
Khan vowed that PTI will stand with the Constitution if the rulers try to run away from elections and violate the constitution. “We have always staged peaceful protests due to the deteriorated economic situation. If they break the Constitution then there would the law of jungle in Pakistan.”
Imran Khan said that PTI is holding the rally to show solidarity with the labourers and for the rule of law. “Everything will be clearly seen in the next week whether there is the rule of law in this country or not. PTI will stand with the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP).”
The PTI chief said the government is making “excuses” that it has to present the budget and that “they think that they can trap us in their ill-intentioned-plan”.
Khan added that if the government thinks that it can stall and the PTI will wait, then they are wrong. “We will move the court and demand elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).”
The PTI chief said his party would put forth only one proposal in the meeting tomorrow: dissolve all assemblies — Sindh, Balochistan, and national — and head for polls before May 14.
Khan’s comments came on Monday as the PTI and the ruling alliance are set to hold a “final round” of talks tomorrow (Tuesday) over the election date on the instructions of the apex court, but top leaders from both sides have cast aspersions over the fruitfulness of the negotiations.
The apex court has asked both sides to sit down and evolve a consensus for holding elections across the country simultaneously after the government refused to follow the top court’s orders on releasing funds for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).
The government — as two sessions were held last week between the PTI and the PDM delegations — said that the polls cannot be held right after the budget, which is presented in June, and proposed that they take place later. But the PTI was insistent on early elections.
Ready for simultaneous polls if assemblies dissolved by May 14: Imran Khan
