PTI says it will boycott polls under Zardari
Mumtaz Alvi
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Wednesday said it would not take part in the next general elections if they were held under incumbent President Asif Ali Zardari.
PTI Central Vice-President Rauf Hasan told The News here that the way the Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan elections were held was a glaring example of rigging and better results could not be expected if Zardari was in charge at the time of general elections.
"This is my personal viewpoint: that in the presence of Zardari, the PML-N should also boycott the next election," Rauf, who is in charge of PTI's Information and Media Wing, said. He explained that his party was keen on achieving some major objectives prior to going to the polls i.e. preparation of error-free fresh electoral rolls, registering those who had attained the age of 18 years, constitution of an independent Election Commission and a blueprint for an interim set-up to oversee the electoral exercise.
Rauf contended that it was imperative to ensure a fair-playing field for all political players before the next general election. In this connection, he referred to PTI Chairman Imran Khan's demand made during the Lahore rally that all politicians declare their assets publicly. "Our demand is that all politicians must declare the billions of dollars stashed in foreign banks under benami," he maintained.
Replying to a question, the PTI vice-president said if the status quo were to persist and general election were held under it, the objective to transform Pakistan into a politically and economically independent state would not be achieved. He said the party would hold deliberations shortly to discuss how the pre-election objectives of PTI could be achieved, but insisted the Supreme Court and PPP-led government also had a role to play in this.
Meanwhile, the PTI has decided to summon its CEC meeting within a week to chalk out future line of action after creating ripples on the political scene by holding the biggest rally in decades last Sunday. The final date of the forum's session will be fixed on the return of PTI Chairman from China. He is expected back home on November 04.
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HERE GOES THE BANANA REVOLUTION !