PTI calls for return of people’s mandate

Days after the US Congress demanded a full and independent probe into Pakistani elections, PTI leader Omar Ayub demanded his party should have its mandate restored as “the entire world has raised objections regarding the polls”.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, Omar Ayub, who is also Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly, also berated the federal government’s new fiscal year budget, describing it as a “murderous attack” on the public, predicting a wave of inflation as a result.

He accused Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi of importing wheat worth Rs450 billion, from which huge commissions were earned, while farmers sold their crops for next to nothing.

“Now, there is an indication that wheat will be exported again, and money will be made once more,” the PTI leader said.

Omar mentioned that the US government had presented a resolution on the election report, and the whole world was objecting to the elections. He insisted that PTI should have its mandate restored. Addressing his resignation from his party positions — a move that lent credence to reports of fissures within the party ranks — the PTI leader said, “As the secretary general, I cannot ensure justice, which is why I resigned”.

It is noteworthy that two days ago, Omar Ayub resigned from his position as the PTI’s secretary general and also stepped down as the chairman of the party’s central finance board. However, the very next day, PTI’s parliamentary committee decided to retain him as secretary general and passed a unanimous resolution in a party meeting.