Imran Khan warns against misadventure of forming govt with ‘stolen votes’

Imprisoned Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan has warned the leaders of opposition parties against misadventure of forming govt with ‘stolen votes'. 

In a message given from jail through his family on Tuesday, PTI founder thanked the people of Pakistan for “entrusting the PTI with a resounding two-thirds majority”.

He commended the PTI’s social media and also appreciated polling agents for securing Form-45 “in the face of harassment and threats”.

“As the people of Pakistan have clearly pronounced their verdict, there is a dire need for democracy and fairness in Pakistan’s elections. I warn against the misadventure of forming a government with stolen votes. Such daylight robbery will not only be a disrespect to the citizens, but will also push the country’s economy further into a downward spiral,” Imran said.

“PTI will never compromise on people’s will, and I have categorically instructed my party against engaging with any political party that has robbed people’s mandate, including PPP, PMLN & MQM,” he added.

The PTI-backed independent candidates has won the highest number of seats of the National Assembly. Nawaz Sharif led Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) gained 75 seats.

At least 25 less than the total number of seats secured by PTI-backed independent candidates. PTI alleged that the election results were rigged and tampered.

Party leaders say their candidates have won at least 180 seats. But they were deprived of the required majority (134 seats needed to form a government alone) through result rigging.

However, all major political parties including PTI are trying to form coalition government as no party couldn’t ensure the needed majority.

The leaders of PML-N are engaged in severe discussions with the leaders of other parties including Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P).    

According to Dawn, an influential local newspaper, the PML-N and MQM-P have held a meeting on Tuesday on the current political situation and government formation.

Both parties agreed to move forward with mutual cooperation and former prime minister Shehbaz Sharif thanked the MQM-P for its support. In the same time the PML-N leaders held a meeting with the leaders of PPP.

Then the leaders of the PML-N, PPP, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid took part a press conference in Islamabad.

PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari said the leaders have decided to form govt together after realising country’s various issues.

Zardari added that he and other political leaders realise the level of debt in the country and are aware of the issues affecting the country.

MQM-Pakistan Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui has said that no interest could be greater than serving Pakistan for any party at the moment.

“With mutual cooperation, we will strengthen democracy and support Mian Shehbaz Sharif. We have supported him before and will do so in future,” he told a news conference with political bigwigs including Asif Ali Zardari, Shehbaz Sharif and others present alongside.

Siddiqui said everyone must put aside their political interests and move ahead with a common approach to serve the country.

“Looking at everything, we have thought and decided to sit together. We have contested elections against each other but despite that, it is not necessary that [we fight] forever. Opposition happens in elections. It was electioneering opposition, not ideological opposition.”

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