Imran Khan
Founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Imran Khan, plans to send a letter to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), urging a halt to their support for Pakistan, citing concerns of “rigged elections.” Ali Zafar, a prominent PTI leader, made the announcement after a meeting with Khan at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail.
Zafar emphasized the importance of good governance in the charters of international organizations like the IMF and the EU. He argued that these institutions are obligated to function in countries with democratic governance. Expressing dissatisfaction with the electoral process, Zafar claimed that PTI’s victory was unjustly taken away through post-poll rigging.
Highlighting the alleged theft of the people’s vote under the cover of darkness, Zafar insisted that seeking an IMF bailout without auditing the election results would be detrimental to the country. Additionally, he lamented the denial of permission to meet Khan’s wife, Bushra Bibi, currently held at the designated sub-jail in Bani Gala.
This move echoes a previous attempt by PTI in 2022 when ex-leader Shaukat Tarin advised the party’s finance ministers to inform the IMF that their commitments could not be fulfilled, citing recent flood devastation as the reason.
Pakistan, having secured a short-term $3 billion program from the IMF last year, faces the impending expiration of the agreement next month. Securing a new and more substantial program is a top priority for the new administration.
Amidst opposition parties forming a coalition government, PTI and others rejecting the election results have called for nationwide protests. PTI demands a recount based on Form 45, alleging tampering with the consolidated results in Form 47 and asserting their candidates’ victory in the National Assembly.
