ISLAMABAD -UNS: The caretaker government on Tuesday said Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s remarks that “fair elections” were possible even without PTI Chairman Imran Khan had been “misunderstood and misreported”.
Imran, who was originally jailed for “corrupt practices” in the Toshakhana case — although his conviction has since been suspended — is currently on judicial remand in the cipher case.
In an interview with The Associated Press last week, the prime minister had said that “fair” polls were possible without Imran and his party leaders, who were jailed as part of a state crackdown in the aftermath of violent riots across the country on May 9.
PM Kakar had also stated that thousands of PTI members, who were not a part of “unlawful activities”, “will be running the political process” and “participating in the elections”.
The PTI had rejected the premier’s remarks, saying elections without Imran would be “unconstitutional and illegal”.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued a day earlier, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) had taken strong exception to PM Kakar’s remarks. It called the prime minister’s claims “anti-democratic” and “ill-judged”.
“The prime minister should be aware that it is not for him or his government to decide unilaterally what constitutes a ‘fair’ election,” the commission had further highlighted.
In a clarification issued today, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said PM Kakar was “plain speaking to suggest that whereas participating in the elections was a right, but retribution for crimes was legally warranted”.
The ministry said the interview had been “twisted by some outlets” to give the impression that someone would not be allowed to take part in the general elections.
