Pakistan General Elections 2023: Imran Khan Sought International Monetary Fund’s Guarantee for Timely Polls
IMF's resident representative Esther Perez Ruiz in a statement said that the meetings with political parties were to "seek assurances of their support for the key objectives and policies under a new IMF-supported programme ahead of the approaching national elections", Geo News reported.
Islamabad, July 9: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan had sought International Monetary Fund (IMF) guarantee that the general elections in Pakistan will be held on its scheduled time, local media reported. In a bid to seek assurance and support for the key objectives and policies under the recently announced $3 billion bailout programme, a delegation of the IMF called on the PTI chief in Lahore, days before the global lender's executive board meeting to review and possibly endorse the Standby Arrangement (SBA) for Pakistan.
IMF's resident representative Esther Perez Ruiz in a statement said that the meetings with political parties were to "seek assurances of their support for the key objectives and policies under a new IMF-supported programme ahead of the approaching national elections", Geo News reported. Pakistan General Elections 2023: Election Commission Directs Political Parties To Apply for Symbols Ahead of Polls.
However, sources privy to the IMF delegation's meeting with the PTI chief on Saturday revealed that the latter asked the global lender to ensure that the general elections, scheduled to take place in October this year, will be held on its time. "What guarantee can you (IMF) give that the elections in the country will be held on time," the PTI chief was quoted as saying in the huddle, Geo News reported.
The IMF representatives, as per insiders, responded by saying that the Washington-based lender keeps a close eye on the situation in the country but “we cannot interfere too much in internal political matters”. Pakistan General Election 2023: Coalition Government and Imran Khan’s PTI Agree to Hold Same-Day Elections Across Country, Date Yet to Be Decided.
The IMF delegation further added that short-term bailout package has been chalked out in such a way that the transition of power is expected to take place on time, the sources added, Geo News reported.
The insiders added that the IMF officials also expressed hope that the interim set-up will hold general elections in the country within constitutionally-mandated time period.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 09, 2023 12:16 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).