Kakar says thousands of PTI activists who did not engage in unlawful activities can partake in elections n It’s absolutely absurd to think about army role in manipulating election results n Conducting polls ECP’s assignment.
NEW YORK – Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has said that free and fair election can be held in Pakistan even without PTI chief Imran Khan, who is currently serving a three-year sentence in Attock jail in the Toshakhana corruption case.
“Free and fair elections can take place without [Imran] Khan or hundreds of members of his party who are jailed because they engaged in unlawful activities including vandalism and arson,” said Kakar in an interview with the Associated Press yesterday. The May 9 riots were triggered almost across the country after deposed prime minister Imran Khan’s arrest in the £190 million settlement case. Hundreds of PTI workers and senior leaders were put behind the bars for their involvement in violence and attacks on military installations
Last week, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced that general elections will occur by the end of January 2024. Responding to a question, PM Kakar said that those PTI activists, who are serving jail sentences, were involved in arson attacks, vandalism and other illegal activities.
“Thousands of PTI activists who did not engage in unlawful activities can partake in the upcoming elections,” he added.
ulations, then they would be dealt with according to the law. PM Kakar further said he would not interfere with the verdicts by the courts, adding that the judiciary should also not be used “as a tool for any political ends.” Talking about PTI allegations pertaining to “threats to democracy” and “de facto military rule in Pakistan”, the PM said the claims were “part and parcel of our political culture”.
