IMRAN KHAN CALLS FOR EARLY ELECTIONS AFTER LANDSLIDE VICTORY IN PUNJAB

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has again called for an early national election after his party seized control of the state assembly in Punjab, the country’s most populous province.

Twenty seats were up for grabs in the Punjab by-election, which was seen as a popularity test for the former international cricket star dismissed by a no-confidence vote in April.

Sunday’s vote was also seen as a bellwether for national elections that must be held by October next year, although Khan has campaigned across the country for an earlier poll since being dismissed.

“The only way forward from here is to hold free and transparent elections,” Khan tweeted early on Monday after the Punjab votes were tallied.

“Any other way will only lead to increased political uncertainty and further economic chaos.”

He also blames the current government for soaring inflation, although most analysts agree Sharif inherited the country’s economic woes – which got some relief last week following an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to resume a rescue package.

To meet IMF conditions for a resumption of a $7.2bn aid package, Sharif had to remove subsidies on fuel, effectively raising prices by more than 50 percent in less than two months.

The country is expecting another $4bn from friendly countries this month to avoid a looming default on international liabilities.

“A bitter taste of unpopular decisions,” read a headline in the influential Dawn newspaper over a front-page analysis.

The result means the likely end of a short reign as Punjab chief minister by Hamza Sharif, the prime minister’s son.

Sharif’s daughter Maryam Nawaz, who was leading the campaign, said her party accepts defeat as “the decision by masses against
them”.