LAHORE, Pakistan — Former Pakistan prime minister
Imran Khan called again Monday for an
early national election after his party seized control of the state assembly in
Punjab, the country’s most populous province.
اضافة اعلان
Twenty seats were
up for grabs in the Punjab by-election, which was seen as a popularity test for
the former international cricket star dismissed by a no-confidence vote in
April.
His
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won 15, with the Pakistan Muslim League-N of
current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif taking four, and one going to an
independent.
Sunday’s vote was
also seen as a bellwether for national elections that must be held by October
next year, although Khan has campaigned across the country for an earlier poll
since being dismissed.
“The only way
forward from here is to hold free and transparent elections,” Khan tweeted
early Monday after the Punjab votes were tallied.
“Any other way
will only lead to increased political uncertainty and further economic chaos.”
Khan has drawn
thousands to rallies since being ousted, giving lengthy speeches claiming the
government was imposed on Pakistan by a US-led conspiracy.
He also blames
the current government for soaring inflation, although most analysts agree
Sharif inherited the country’s economic woes — which were given some relief
last week by an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to resume
a rescue package.
Pakistan
newspapers suggested the Punjab result was a consequence of the economic
hardships currently felt by the country, which is spending nearly half its
income to service dire foreign debt.
To meet
IMF conditions for a resumption of a $7.2 billion aid package, Sharif had to remove
subsidies on fuel — effectively raising prices by more than 50 percent in less
than two months.
“A bitter taste
of unpopular decisions,” read a headline in the influential Dawn newspaper over
a front-page analysis.
The Punjab
assembly vote was called after the election commission disqualified 20 members
of the PTI for switching party loyalties.
The result means
the likely end of a short reign as Punjab Chief Minister by Hamza Sharif, the
prime minister’s son.
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