Imran Khan says free, fair elections only solution to resolve current Pak crisis

Lahore, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairperson Imran Khan has said free and fair elections are the only solution to resolve the current crisis after the Pakistan Supreme Court gave a verdict against the government on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) issue.

He alleged Pakistan Muslim League- N chief Nawaz Sharif wanted to defend the government when PTI gave a call for elections after the apex court warned President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in its January 10 order of a possible disqualification from office over the non-implementation of its NRO verdict for the past two years.

“If the PML-N is serious about their stance, then why is it not resigning from the assemblies?” The Express Tribune quoted Imran as asking.

The National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) was a controversial ordinance issued by the former President General Pervez Musharraf, on October 5, 2007, which granted amnesty to politicians, political workers and bureaucrats who were accused of corruption, embezzlement, money laundering, murder, and terrorism.

It was later declared unconstitutional by the Pakistan Supreme Court on December 16, 2009.

Imran also announced that his party would hold a central executive meeting on January 14 to discuss backing Pakistan’s judiciary if it comes under attack.

“The Supreme Court is the only institution which has kept our country safe, otherwise, the NRO beneficiaries would have sold off the country by now,” Imran said.

He called on the Pakistan’s Election Commission to make new electoral rolls pointing out that 45 percent of the electoral votes in the 2008 elections were fake.

“The nation can see that the government is trying to become a martyr, but a martyr is one who dies for a noble cause… If they make a sacrifice for the sake of their bank accounts, then the whole nation will distribute sweets on the roads for their ‘martyrdom’,” Imran said.