New York: Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar said “Fair” elections were possible without PTI Chairman Imran Khan who is currently incarcerated in graft case and his party leaders jailed following violent riots in country on May 9.

However, Premier stated that thousands of PTI members, who were not part of “Unlawful activities”, “Will be running political process” and “Will be participating in elections”.

His statement comes days after Election Commission of Pakistan finally announced that polls in country would be held January next year. Major political parties in country have now began preparations for elections. In an interview with Associated Press over weekend, PM Kakar dismissed possibility of military establishment manipulating election results to ensure PTI doesn’t win as “Absolutely absurd”. He said ECP would conduct vote, adding that Chief Election Commissioner was appointed by Imran himself, so “Why would he turn in any sense of word against him?”

In response to question on whether he would recommend judiciary to overturn Imran’s conviction and enable him to run in elections, Kakar said he wouldn’t interfere with decisions by judiciary and stressed judiciary should not be used “As tool for any political ends”.

“We will ensure that law is appropriate. Anyone, be it Imran Khan or any other politician who violates, in terms of their political behaviour, laws of country, then restoration of law has to be ensured. We cannot equate that with political discrimination,” he said. Talking about PTI allegations pertaining to “Threats to democracy” and “De facto military rule in Pakistan”, PM said claims were “Part and parcel of our political culture”. He said his government’s working relationship with military was “Very smooth” as well as “Very open and candid”.

According to PM Kakar, solution was to gradually improve performance of civilian institutions “Rather than weakening current military organisation, because that’s not going to solve any of our problems.”

He stated that when ECP would announce exact date for elections, his government would provide all kinds of financial, security and other assistance for polls.

One of significant challenges facing Pakistan is long-standing Kashmir dispute with India, volatile issue since end of British colonial rule in 1947. Kakar criticised India's actions in region, stating that India has deployed 900,000 troops to Kashmir, effectively subjecting its people to state of "Large imprisonment" with limited political rights. He argued that this violates United Nations Charter's principles on right to self-determination and resolution calling for UN referendum in Kashmir.

"If Kashmir was in Europe or North America, would there still be what he called 'callous attitude' toward resolving it?"

Published in The Daily National Courier, September, 25 2023

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