Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto said he received threats of martial law a night before the no-confidence vote against Imran Khan. He made the revelations during a National Assembly session held today.
Speaking on the floor, FM Bilawal said the PTI-led government had threatened him with martial law if the PDM did not agree on immediate elections in the country. He said a PTI minister conveyed the message.
“A minister of the previous government had delivered a threat to an associate that we should accept the proposal of immediate election or face martial law,” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari disclosed.
Read more: The people’s champion Sheikh Rasheed demands ‘Martial Law’
Furthermore, while criticizing the previous government, Bilawal said that the new coalition government believed in democracy and transparent elections.
“We are not those, which believe undemocratic practices. We want a free and fair election, this was our demand earlier as it is our stance now,” he said.
“If not Charter of Democracy, we must have at least a code of conduct,” Bilawal further added.
⚡ @BBhuttoZardari alleges on the floor of the @NAofPakistan that the opposition was threatened with warnings of martial law one night before the no-confidence voting against Imran Khan.
Two options: Early elections or Martial law ❗️#ImranKhan #bilawalBhutto pic.twitter.com/xZo7v3ot69
— Pakistan Observer (@pakobserver) May 12, 2022
The foreign minister said that despite PTI’s repeated attempts to defeat the no-confidence motion against the former premier, their bids were foiled and the no-trust vote was successful.
Bilawal then demanded an investigation into the events leading up to and post the no-confidence motion that led to former prime minister Imran Khan’s ouster.
One of the Ministers of the Imran Khan’s government threatened the opposition with warnings of martial law one night before the no-confidence voting against Imran Khan.
Says : Foreign minister of pakistan @BBhuttoZardari . pic.twitter.com/KYnEp5fsUT
— Saba Hyder (@SabaHyder1) May 12, 2022
Early elections in Pakistan?
Currently, Pakistan’s political crisis is due to the notion of early elections. PTI, which is now the opposition, is in full favor of early elections. Meanwhile, the PML-N-led government is against it.
The PML-N’s London meeting decided that there will be no early polls in Pakistan. The participants agreed on implementing the economic agenda first and then announcing the time of elections after consultation with coalition partners.
No early elections in Pakistan, PML-N London meeting decides.
— Ihtisham Ul Haq (@iihtishamm) May 12, 2022
PPP Co-Chairman Asif Zardari too said they were not afraid of elections. However, they will hold the general election in the country after electoral reforms, no matter whether relevant authorities complete the process in three or four months’ time.
Read more: Nawaz Sharif to announce decision on early elections