Imran disappointed with President Alvi, claims sister

Aleema Khan says former premier regrets president not announcing election date yet

LAHORE:

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan is deeply disappointed and unhappy with President Dr Arif Alvi, Aleema Khan said on Wednesday following a court appearance in Lahore.

Aleema, who was accused in the May 9 riots case, appeared before an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), where the court extended her and former finance minister Asad Umar's interim bails until October 16.

The judge directed the lawyers to present their final arguments in the Jinnah House attack case.

Following the hearing, Imran's sister while addressing the media stated that her brother’s health conditions were deteriorating. “He has lost a lot of weight. There is no place for him to exercise or walk,” she said, adding that she was worried about his health.

Imran also said that there were "preparations going on to keep him in jail for a longer period in the cypher case,”, she added.

Aleema further claimed that the former premier has conveyed a message that no one has approached him for discussions. Furthermore, she conveyed Imran's profound regret and disappointment in President Alvi's "failure to fulfil his constitutional duty of announcing the election date during this crucial time for the nation".

Strategy for polls

Meanwhile, sources said the PTI has devised a comprehensive political strategy in anticipation of the forthcoming elections.

Insiders revealed that the party chief Imran Khan has issued detailed instructions to the party leaders regarding the election campaign. Once the election date is announced, PTI plans to initiate its campaign promptly.

In a bid to gain widespread grassroots support, worker conventions will be organised at the district level throughout the country. The conventions will serve as a platform to engage with party workers, address their concerns, and garner their support.

Furthermore, PTI has also directed its underground leaders to commence preparations for the upcoming workers' convention.

These leaders, currently operating discreetly, will be tasked to play a significant role in mobilising the party's workforce and ensuring the successful organisation of the conventions.

With the announcement of the election date, the leaders will also emerge from the shadows and actively participate in the election campaign, sources added.

Elections date conundrum

Last month, the PTI's core committee had, in a hard-hitting statement, reminded President Alvi about his constitutional responsibilities, demanding that he should exercise his powers and announce the polls’ date without any further delay.

The core committee stated that if the president – who completed his five-year term on Friday night and was unlikely to leave the office – did not announce the poll date, he would be responsible for the violation of the Constitution and the basic constitutional and democratic rights of the people.

The committee conveyed that the announcement of the date for general elections would put an end to the prevailing chaotic and uncertain situation that gripped the country since the “regime change conspiracy” in April 2022.

The caretaker government has emphasised that only the ECP possessed the authority to make such an announcement.

Initially, the president had extended an invitation to Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja in an attempt to settle on a date.

However, Raja declined the request, dismissing it as a futile exercise and reinforcing that only the ECP possessed the authority to announce the date, citing amendments made in the ECP Act of 2017.

Prior to the amendment to Section 57(1) of the act, Raja had said, that the president was required to consult the ECP before appointing a date for the election.

However, after the amendment in Section 57, the commission had been empowered to announce the date or dates for the general election, he said.