Former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, has accused officials of stealing his party's mandate in the February general elections, alleging that this allowed rival parties, PML-N and PPP, to form a coalition government. Khan made these remarks following a hearing related to the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case, where his wife Bushra Bibi, aide Farah Gogi, and property tycoon Malik Riaz are implicated.
The February 8 elections in Pakistan faced allegations of vote rigging, prompting Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to claim that the new government was formed by stealing its mandate. Khan asserted that PTI received over 30 million votes, while other parties jointly secured a similar number. He stated that irregularities were raised with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and by non-governmental organizations.
In response to the alleged rigging, protests were held outside the IMF headquarters, with Khan endorsing the demonstration but distancing himself from anti-Army slogans. He called for high treason proceedings against officials responsible for stealing the mandate, considering it equivalent to treason under Article 6 of the Constitution.
The PTI-backed independents who won seats in the February elections joined the Sunni Ittehad Council to challenge the allocation of reserved seats. However, the Peshawar High Court rejected the petition, impacting PTI's representation.
Khan criticized the conduct of the February elections, labeling them a "fixed match" orchestrated by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the caretaker government. He also expressed skepticism about the upcoming Senate polls, terming them another "fixed match."
Regarding the government's performance, Khan questioned its sustainability due to the fragile economy, rejecting criticism that PTI had left the country on the verge of default. He blamed the previous PML-N government for leaving a significant deficit and advised the incumbent government to seek loans only if it could repay the debt.
During the hearing of the Al-Qadir Trust case, Khan's counsel concluded the cross-examination of a prosecution witness. The case revolves around the settlement of a significant amount recovered from a property tycoon, which Khan allowed to be used to settle a fine imposed by the Supreme Court, allegedly in return for land gifted to a trust set up by Khan and his wife.
Khan, Bushra Bibi, and others were present during the courtroom proceedings, which were adjourned until March 20.
