ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday warned the “powers that be” that holding free and fair by-elections on July 17 would be their “first test” to demonstrate neutrality and the only way out of the quagmire that the alleged US conspiracy against his government had landed Pakistan into.
The former prime minister asserted during consecutive rallies in Bhakkar and Layyah that the PML-N-led administration cannot win by-elections without “major rigging.”He addressed an enraged mob in Layyah that “they could only win elections by rigging and fear” and ordered them to watch over polling places on election day.
Mr. Khan has made references to possible manipulation in the lead-up to the by-elections for 20 seats in Punjab later this week previously. Additionally, he has claimed that the Punjab-based Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) are working together.”I want to send a message to everyone in Pakistan, especially the actual power players; they [PTI supporters] are the ones who walked to the streets to fight for Pakistan’s future. They do not want to cause harm to their nation. Conducting honest elections is the only way to reverse the effects of the plot [against the PTI government], Mr. Khan stated in a speech to his supporters in Layyah.
