ISLAMABAD: Former prime minister Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party on Tuesday called on the establishment to “review” its policy of supporting the incumbent administration after managing to secure a convincing victory in the recent by-elections in the country.
The PTI won six out of eight National Assembly seats in the by-polls that took place in three Pakistani provinces on Sunday in what was widely viewed as a major political setback to the government. It also bagged two out of three Punjab provincial assembly seats.
This was PTI’s second major electoral victory since the downfall of its administration in a no-confidence vote in April. Previously, the party also swept crucial Punjab Assembly by-elections in July which were held on 20 seats.
The former premier’s political party, which has been demanding fresh elections, has described its electoral victories as people’s “verdict” against the country’s ruling coalition. It has now urged the “establishment,” a veiled reference to the country’s powerful military, to reconsider its decision to support the government which was becoming unpopular with people.
“The people want that the country should be returned to them,” said Chaudhry Fawad Hussain in a Twitter post. “The #ImportedGovernment should be sent home and the country should move toward new elections.”
“These rulers have put their feet on the neck of the people who are finding it difficult to breathe,” he continued. “The establishment should review its policies. It is not right for the [state] institutions to lose their popularity for an unpopular government.”
Hussain told a local news channel on Monday the establishment was finding it increasingly difficult to work with the current administration and was likely to the country to fresh elections.
“We don’t know frankly what the establishment is thinking, how it is viewing the recent election results, and what are they thinking about the whole scenario,” he said in an interview with the ARY news channel.
“Will it continue to work with the government the way it was working before,” he wondered. “I think it will become difficult and they can take the country to fresh elections.”
Hussain maintained if it did not happen and the government refused to hold early elections, the PTI would be left with no option but to organize a big protest march.
Khan also announced in a news conference on Monday he would not delay his anti-government “long march” beyond October while calling on the government to announced snap polls before that.
Pakistan’s ruling coalition, however, dismissed the demand again, saying no group could be allowed to dictate such political terms on the basis of force.
“Those who take the law into their hands will be dealt with according to the constitution and the law,” it added in a statement.
