LAHORE: Imran Khan, the PTI chief, has sought the president’s intervention to stop the “brazen interference of intelligence agencies” in politics.

In a letter to President Arif Alvi, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief wrote that the PTI’s core and parliamentary committees had unanimously passed a resolution seeking “your intervention to stop interference in the political process”.

“The most recent reflection of this interference is the KP (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) governor’s statement that he cannot give a date for elections to the KP legislature as that would be given by the intelligence agencies and the establishment,” the letter said.

“The resolution also draws your attention to the brazen acts of abduction, sham FIRs, custodial torture, threats being meted out to PTI workers and leaders. The resolution calls on you to take action against all these actions that contravene the Constitution, the law of the land and fundamental rights.”

Asad Umar, the PTI’s secretary general, enclosed a transcript of the KP governor’s press talk with the letter.

According to the transcript, “Conducting elections is not responsibility of the government but that of the Election Commission. Some people are spreading rumours in this regard.

“In such circumstances, it is not in my exclusive domain to announce elections date or not. It is rather between institutions — establishment, intelligence agencies and other institutions — to report (on feasibility of the situation) and the Election Commission to decide the date. However, I would wish for free, fair and transparent election to be held. But the state itself is facing crises. Other than election, we also have to consider the economic conditions of country.

“I have relations with many industrialists, who are also facing the crisis situation; more than elections, they want solution of their issues and I am focusing on them. Since provincial cabinet has been completed, we are now focusing on industrial and trade issues.

“Free trade of dollar has quickly added Rs30 to Rs32 to its value. We want (banks) to at least start opening letters of credit. In a short while, the government has to focus on and try fixing and achieving its economic targets.”

PML-N man joins PTI

Separately, Haider Ali Khan, a PML-N member of the Punjab Assembly from Jaranwala, quit his party and joined the PTI on Thursday.

“The PTI, under the dynamic leadership of Imran Khan, has become a symbol of resistance against fascist forces,” Haider Ali said in a brief speech.

“The country was well on its way to recovery when ‘operation regime change’ pushed it back to the dark ages, crushing people under hyperinflation. It has become virtually impossible even for the upper middle class to survive under the circumstances.”

Published in Dawn, February 3rd, 2023