Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has again called for early elections after a by-election upset saw his party take control of a crucial provincial assembly in Punjab.
Twenty seats were up for grabs in the Punjab by-election, which was seen as a popularity test for the former international cricket star dismissed by a no-confidence vote in April.
His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won 15, with the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) of current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif taking four, and one going to an independent.
Sunday’s vote was also seen as a bellwether for national elections that must be held by October next year, although Khan has campaigned across the country for an earlier poll since being dismissed.
Khan has drawn thousands to rallies since being ousted, giving lengthy speeches claiming the government was imposed on Pakistan by a US-led conspiracy.
He also blames the current government for soaring inflation, although most analysts agree Sharif inherited the country’s economic woes – which were given some relief last week by an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to resume a rescue package.
Pakistan newspapers suggested the Punjab result was a consequence of the economic hardships currently felt by the country, which is spending nearly half its income to service dire foreign debt.
To meet IMF conditions for a resumption of a $7.2 billion aid package, Sharif had to remove subsidies on fuel – effectively raising prices by more than 50 percent in less than two months.
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