Imran Khan seeks IMF's 'guarantee' for timely general elections in Pakistan: Media report

Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan has sought a ‘ guarantee’ from the International Monetary Fund for the general elections to be conducted on its scheduled time.

A delegation of the global lender met Khan on Friday in Lahore to seek assurance and support for the key objectives and policies under the recently announced USD 3 billion bailout program, days before the IMF executive board meeting to review and possibly endorse the Standby Arrangement (SBA) for Pakistan, Geo News channel reported on Saturday.

After months of negotiations that nearly brought the nation to brink of default, Pakistan and the IMF reached a staff-level agreement on 29 June to inject USD 3 billion into the ailing economy. On 12 July, the IMF’s Executive Board will meet to examine SBA for Pakistan.

Quoting sources, Geo News reported that Khan asked the IMF to ensure that the general elections, scheduled to take place in October, will be held on time.

What guarantee can you (IMF) give that the elections in the country will be held on time, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief was quoted as saying in the huddle.

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.

The IMF delegation further added that the 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 report said quoting sources.

The insiders added that the IMF officials expressed hope that the interim set-up will hold general elections in the country within the constitutionally-mandated time period.

The meeting was attended by IMF country chief Nathan Porter who joined virtually from Washington and Resident Representative Ester Perez Luis who was physically present.

The IMF meeting has come under scanner in Pakistan where some leaders termed it as interference in domestic affairs of the country.

However, the 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”.

With inputs from PTI