Imran urges CEC to resign, says early elections the only solution

In Pakistan,Punjab bypoll results have raised the political fight again. Despite a landslide victory against PML-N in the  by- election for 20 constituencies of Punjab, PTI Chairman Imran Khan Monday accused the coalition government of using "every tactic to ensure that we (PTI) lose the polls."  He said: "All of the government’s [machinery] was used against us despite the Supreme Court’s order." In a televised speech on Monday, Khan said that if the next elections take place “in such a manner, then political instability will exacerbate, not decrease”. The PTI chairman said that due to the CEC’s “incompetence”, four million people were shown dead on voter lists.“But apart from that, he wholeheartedly participated in the polling process to ensure that PML-N wins,” the PTI chairman said.“We do not trust this election commissioner,” he said, demanding a resignation from the CEC. The PTI chairman said that transparent elections are not possible under the current election commissioner.

Meanwhile, Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah has said that for the PML-N, the idea of early elections is on the cards but the final decision in this regard will be mutually made by the coalition parties.Speaking at a press conference in Lahore on Monday, the interior minister said the PML-N is, was, and will be bound by the coalition parties' decision regarding the dissolution of the assemblies. "The decision will be made after we present the matter before the parties," said the interior minister. "The 20 seats do not challenge or measure the PML-N's popularity as the candidates who were electioneering for these constituencies were not ours," he added. 

According to Dawn report, Former prime minister and senior PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi  asserted that the current coalition government would complete its term and “remain in power till Aug 17, 2023.”He made these remarks in Samaa TV programme Nadeem Malik Live, a day after his party was outclassed by the PTI on 15 out of 20 seats in the by-elections in Punjab, thus triggering debate whether the government would be able to continue or opt for early elections.