Imran Khan’s repeated cry for early elections is in fact an attempt to thwart the possibility of an interim set up. Prominent columnist and political analyst, Habib Akram claimed, on the basis of insider information, in a Dunya TV program.
Imran Khan, Chairman PTI, in recent days, has repeatedly demanded early elections. He has asserted this, again and again, during PTI’s Jalsas and rallies. Since Oct 8, Imran has addressed 11 or 12 such rallies across Pakistan, from remote areas in KP to interior Sindh and southern Punjab. Though his arguments keep on chaining but the gist remains that since a disqualified Nawaz controls the federal and Punjab governments, and economy is in bad shape, so its time to dissolve the parliament and hold early general elections.
However, prominent political analysts wonder: What are Khan’s real intentions? They suggest that Khan knows well that his party, at this very moment, may not be in a situation to win clearly in Punjab and Nawaz, at this moment, can rely upon “sympathy factor” amongst his support base. So many express doubts regarding the PTI chief’s real intentions. Speculations suggest that Imran Khan’s actual goal is to increase pressure on the wider political system – including the establishment, the judiciary, and the present government – in order to prevent the possibility of a deal between Nawaz Sharif and the establishment – and to thwart the possibility of an “interim set up”
A few weeks ago, certain influential players gave a proposal to the PTI chief for an interim set-up and delaying the 2018 elections.
Imran, according to some sources, is aiming to sabotage any plan that may involve an interim government set up since that may delay elections indefinitely, change the nature of politics in county and may provide Nawaz Sharif an opportunity to wriggle out of his cases.
Read More: Imran Khan readying for a blitzkreig?
This matter was discussed extensively on Dunya News TV program, Tonight with Moeed Pirzada, on 10th Nov.
The anchor, Dr. Moeed Pirzada, was of the opinion that it is not Imran but Nawaz Sharif who would benefit from an early election. Moeed Pirzada argued that since Nawaz was faced with the twin challenge of keeping his party united and maintain his control over the government of Khaqqan Abbasi, it is he who will benefit the most from early elections. The longer the time period between now and the elections, the more difficult it would become for Nawaz to maintain his grip over his party, the federal government, and Punjab’s provincial government.
Former Attorney General of Pakistan, and ex-Governor of Punjab, Sardarf Latif Khosa of PPP agreed with the anchor’s assessment and added that currently, Imran Khan is not in a position to contest elections in Punjab.
Interestingly, prominent columnist Habib Akram (considered to be sympathetic towards the PML-N) revealed that a few weeks ago, certain influential players, through political elements, gave a proposal to the PTI chief for an interim set-up and delaying the 2018 elections. According to Habib Akram, Imran Khan rejected this suggestion point-blank.
Nawaz Sharif asked Prime Minister Shahid Khaqqan Abbasi to dissolve the Parliament and sack the Army chief in order to bring in an interim government.
The analysis put forth by the panel indicates that even though Imran does not want early elections, he is against delaying them.
The conclusions that were drawn by the panelists also sync with the rumors regarding the “London meeting”
Read More: Why exactly does Imran Khan want early polls?
London Plan?
For the past two weeks, many in the media and the political circles have claimed that during a meeting in London, Nawaz Sharif asked Prime Minister Shahid Khaqqan Abbasi to dissolve the Parliament and sack the Army chief, Gen. Qamar Javaid Bajwa. PM Abbasi, reportedly shocked by these demands, politely refused. “Nawaz Sharif is desperate to have a break down in the current set up” sources argue. Unless the current political arrangement melts down due to agitation on streets, or dissolution of assembles or change of command in the military, Nawaz sees no respite from the corruption cases proceeding against him. Sharif lawyers are working hard to create delays and bog down court in procedural matters, but sooner or later ‘substantial issues” of financial transactions will come up and will be extremely damaging for Nawaz’s political future – sources assert.