Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan, currently imprisoned, is advocating for an audit of the country's recent election. His party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), alleges that the election was rigged. Senator Ali Zafar, a senior PTI leader, revealed this development after meeting with Khan in prison.
This move comes as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) prepares to disburse a crucial installment of a bailout loan to Pakistan. The IMF has expressed readiness to collaborate with Pakistan's new government on policies for economic stability and prosperity.
Khan's rivals have criticized him, accusing him of obstructing IMF funds to harm the economy. Last year, Pakistan narrowly avoided defaulting on foreign payments when the IMF approved a $3 billion bailout following negotiations with former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Sharif is currently working to form a coalition government after no party secured a majority in the recent election. His party, Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), emerged as the largest party, with support from independent members and allies like the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).
Despite winning 93 seats in the National Assembly, Khan's party lacks enough seats to govern. PTI alleges electoral fraud in several constituencies, a claim disputed by the Election Commission of Pakistan.
Khan is pushing for an independent audit of the election before further IMF loan discussions. The IMF and Khan's previous government had disagreements over a 2019 bailout agreement, leading to economic challenges in Pakistan.
Sharif, poised to become the new prime minister, plans to negotiate a fresh IMF bailout to address inflation and revive the country's economy, a critical task ahead.
