The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) saw its victory in by-elections in Pakistan's Punjab province as an endorsement of its demand for fresh elections in the country, with the party Chairman Imran Khan reiterating that "fair polls" were the only way forward, local media reported.
However, the former Pakistan prime minister again called the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) "totally biased", saying that new elections must be held under a credible ECP. He warned that any other path would only lead to greater political uncertainty and further economic chaos, The Express Tribune reported.
PTI's resounding victory had not just jolted the ruling alliance, led by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) but also dented its hopes of completing the remaining constitutional tenure in the Centre."The only way forward from here is to hold fair & free elections under a credible ECP.
Any other path will only lead to greater political uncertainty & further economic chaos," Imran Khan said in a tweet.The defeat of the ruling coalition promptly triggered the debate if the political leadership sat together to decide about the rules of game for fresh elections before the country went for fresh elections.
Soon after election results starting coming in, the PTI and PML-Qauid leadership put forward the fresh ideas for moving ahead. PTI's Fawad Chaudhry coined the idea of leadership of major political parties sitting together to decide rules of game for new elections as well as for bringing in political stability to the country.
Punjab province has simultaneously given new life to the PTI and a big surprise to the ruling alliance.Political analysts have seen the outcome of Punjab province by-polls as a referendum on both the new government's performance, especially of increasing oil prices, and on Imran Khan's narrative about his ouster, The Express Tribune reported.