Meanwhile, Imran Khan voiced concerns over potential horse-trading in the upcoming Senate elections and vowed to approach the Supreme Court against the alleged rigging in the general elections.

Talking to the media persons after a hearing in the £190 million corruption reference — in which Mr Khan and his spouse, Bushra Bibi, are being tried by the accountability court of Islamabad — the former premier said the votes of parliamentarians would be bought in the upcoming election of the upper house.

He described the elections as bogus and said that they damaged the reputation of the institutions.

He said that even though the PTI was not allowed to run its election campaign, the citizens reacted with the power of votes. How­ever, he said, the people’s mandate was not acknowledged but was stolen.

Mr Khan said the PTI would continue peaceful protests against the “rigged elections” and warned that Pakistan would face the same situation that Sri Lanka witnessed after default.

Read more here

Opinion

Editorial

Geopolitical games
Updated 18 Dec, 2024

Geopolitical games

While Assad may be gone — and not many are mourning the end of his brutal rule — Syria’s future does not look promising.
Polio’s toll
18 Dec, 2024

Polio’s toll

MONDAY’s attacks on polio workers in Karak and Bannu that martyred Constable Irfanullah and wounded two ...
Development expenditure
18 Dec, 2024

Development expenditure

PAKISTAN’S infrastructure development woes are wide and deep. The country must annually spend at least 10pc of its...
Risky slope
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Risky slope

Inflation likely to see an upward trajectory once high base effect tapers off.
Digital ID bill
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Digital ID bill

Without privacy safeguards, a centralised digital ID system could be misused for surveillance.
Dangerous revisionism
Updated 17 Dec, 2024

Dangerous revisionism

When hatemongers call for digging up every mosque to see what lies beneath, there is a darker agenda driving matters.