Following widespread demonstrations and accusations of vote-rigging, the spokesperson for former prime minister Imran Khan wrote to the managing director of the IMF on Wednesday, pleading with the organisation to associate Pakistan’s next financial facility with “good governance” and an examination of a minimum of thirty national and provincial assembly seats.
Before speaking with Islamabad about a new strategy, Khan’s attorney announced this week that he would write to the IMF to request an unbiased audit of the national elections held on February 8. The IMF declined to talk about “ongoing political developments.”
Summertime Pakistan’s default was avoided by a short-term IMF bailout. The $350 billion economy needs to be stabilised; therefore, the incoming administration must find a long-term solution before the scheme expires next month.
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Alleging electoral meddling, Khan’s party has staged massive protests against the ECP since February 8. Election officials told demonstrators to file complaints, disputing Khan’s claims. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva was informed by Khan’s spokeswoman, Raoof Hasan, that an impartial election audit was “unheeded” by Pakistani political parties and independent observers.
The letter reached the Arab Times.
“We, therefore, call upon the IMF to give effect to the guidelines adopted by it with respect to good governance as well as conditionalities that must be satisfied prior to the grant of a finance facility that is to burden the people of Pakistan with further debt.”
“At least thirty percent of the seats in the national and provincial assemblies should be audited; this can be done in two weeks.”
The party does not want an IMF examination that lasts two weeks, Hasan emphasised. He asserted that FAFEN and PATTAN-Coalition38 conduct “comprehensive” poll audits.
“The IMF’s involvement would be of great benefit to Pakistan and its citizens and could potentially herald long-term prosperity, expansion, and macroeconomic stability within the nation,” she states.
Days before his removal by parliamentary confidence vote in April 2022, opponents of Khan allegedly put a stop to an IMF arrangement. Khan is not convinced. The party blames Parliament-selected Prime Minister Sharif for Pakistan’s economic difficulties.
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