Khan promises end to ‘Mafia’s game’

PAKISTANI cricket star-turned-politician Imran Khan’s party vowed last Sun­day (27) to oust the country’s “corrupt” rulers, as the coun­try announced it will hold general elections on July 25.

Khan is hoping to achieve a years-long dream of leading the country as its prime minis­ter. His Pakistan Tehreek-e-In­saf (PTI) party is the main challenger to the ruling Paki­stan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), which was headed by Nawaz Sharif until his ban.

PTI leaders have said they are confident they will be able to defeat the PML-N.

“The nation... can see the dawn of a new Pakistan, which will not be ruled by the corrupt,” the party said last Sunday on Twitter along with a graphic that read “Mafia’s Game Over”.

“Stop us if you can,” it said in another tweet.

The PTI has vowed to fight corruption, presenting itself as a polar opposite of what it calls ‘status-quo’ politicians.

Despite Sharif’s ouster, the ruling party says it has invest­ed in improving Pakistan’s rickety infrastructure and at­tracted billions of dollars in Chinese investment.

The PML-N has also denied a number of allegations of graft against its leadership by opponents like Khan.

Since he was ousted, Sharif and the PML-N have become increasingly vocal in their confrontation with the coun­try’s powerful military estab­lishment and the courts, claiming there is a conspiracy to reduce the party’s power.

Despite the numerous court rulings against the PML-N, the party has won a string of re­cent by-elections, proving it will likely remain a threat.

It continues to enjoy wide support in Punjab, the coun­try’s most populous province, but will enter the elections un­der increasing pressure.