The former Prime Minister, Imran Khan, has penned an opinion piece for the prestigious British magazine, The Economist, by invitation. In the article uploaded on January 4, he addressed the upcoming February 8 general elections and the prevailing economic situation in Pakistan.
Expressing concerns about the fairness of the electoral process, Khan asserted that since the vote of no confidence in April 2022, he and his party, PTI, have been consistently targeted by the establishment, including the army, security agencies, and civil bureaucracy.
Scheduled for next month, the elections have raised apprehensions from human rights watchdogs regarding the uneven playing field for certain political parties.
The transitional government, led by interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, has faced criticism, particularly in providing what some political parties describe as a favorable environment for the PML-N in Punjab.
Despite these concerns, the caretaker setup has refuted such impressions. Notably, Khan’s party recently lost a legal battle over its electoral symbol, the bat, when the Lahore High Court dismissed a petition challenging the nullification of PTI’s intra-party elections.
In his piece, Khan alleged that the country’s top electoral authority has been compromised, citing its actions and the failure to hold snap polls in Punjab on May 14, 2023, despite a Supreme Court order in March.
Expressing skepticism about the national vote, Khan mentioned contempt cases filed against him and other PTI leaders for criticizing the Election Commission of Pakistan.
Khan portrayed the May 9 events as a “false-flag operation” and highlighted the ongoing legal challenges and allegations against him, including treason. He argued that the denial of PTI’s right to campaign jeopardizes the credibility of potential elections, leading to political instability and further economic challenges.
While Khan called for fair elections, he lamented the undermining of democracy, asserting that the current trajectory is moving away from democratic principles.
The editor’s note clarified that the government and the US State Department have denied Khan’s claims of American interference in Pakistani politics, with the government prosecuting the ex-PM under the Official Secrets Act.
