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.
Karan Johar and Smriti Irani
