LAHORE (National Times) – Advisor to the Punjab Chief Minister on Home and Information Omar Sarfraz Cheema has said the PDM partners were baffled after PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s announcement of dissolving the assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In a statement, the former Punjab governor said the parties included in the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) were an outcome of intrigues.
He said its first time that 13-member coalition partners had faced famous public leader like Imran Khan, adding he [Imran] had exposed their governments turn by turn.
Cheema said the coalition partners were afraid of the general elections.
On Saturday, the deposed premier and PTI chief Imran Khan announced to dissolve the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies on December 23 (Friday).
Addressing the PTI supporters via video link from his residence in Lahore’s Zaman Park flanked by the Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa CM Mahmood said that “I want to inform the people about why I decided to dissolve the two provincial assemblies.”
“In this country, until free and fair elections don t take place […] fears will still remain that the country might sink,” he continued.
‘Govt may delay general elections beyond October 2023’
Rebuking the incumbent government, Imran said unemployment and inflation were on the rise and foreign confidence in the country had eroded, leading to investments drying up.
He went on to say that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) led government had no plan to improve country’s image and economy, adding that they came to power just to get “NRO 2”.
The PTI chief took a jibe at ruling alliance and claimed that all their money and business and children are abroad, adding that they [incumbent rulers] are living a luxurious life after looting the nation’s money.
“For the first time in his life, I fear that the corrupt gang imposed on the country was taking the nation toward destruction,” he added.
“You can ask any industrialist, labour, and farmer; their finances cannot be managed amid the ongoing economic situation,” Imran continued.
He said that over 750,000 Pakistani left the country after being disappointed by the state of the country.
Imran Khan expressed his concerns saying that the ruling coalition might not hold general elections even in October 2023.
Slamming the Electoral watchdog’s Sikandar Sultan Raja , the PTI chief said that “The election commission is conniving with them. A very dishonest man is involved with them, who will tell them ways to delay elections.”
‘Gen Bajwa conspired to topple my govt’
Imran Khan accused that General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa was behind the conspiracy to oust his government through the no-confidence motion.
“Question is who was responsible? One man was responsible and his name is Gen Bajwa. I did not use to take his name because he was army chief. We did not want army to be badmouthed. We want a strong army,” he said.
Imran Khan said that Gen Bajwa was behind the conspiracy. “They [establishment] thought Dar and Shehbaz were some kind of geniuses that they will run government better than us,” he added.
“After my government fell, the masses supported PTI. Our popularity increased even more after the no-confidence motion. Despite all efforts, they lost by-elections,” he added.
