Islamabad: Pakistan’s Minister for Economic Affairs and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has ruled out possibility of early elections in the country saying the ruling coalition Pakistan Democratic Movement’s (PDM) government would complete its term and the general elections would be held on due time.

“The government will complete its term and elections will be held in October as per the constitutional requirement,” Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said while giving an interview to a private TV channel.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq’s remarks came on the same day when former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan held a press conference and reiterated his demand for early elections in the country. Sadiq further said that the PDM government focused on improving the economy of the country and its foremost concern was to provide relief to the poor people.

Imran’s ouster was constitutional

Commenting on the former prime minister’s ouster, Ayaz Sadiq said Imran Khan was deposed through No-Confidence Move which is in line with the Constitution of Pakistan.

“Imran Khan was removed in a constitutional manner. We are not employing his tactics such as long marches, or protests, etc. We could have done a lot if we wanted to employ his strategies,” he said.

Ex-PM reiterates demand for early elections

Earlier in his press conference Imran Khan reiterated his party’s stance on dissolution of provincial assemblies of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab where his party is in power and said, “Dissolution of the KP and Punjab assemblies will not go beyond December.” Addressing the press conference at his Lahore’s Zaman Park residence, the PTI chief reiterated that early election was the only way out of the economic quagmire.

“They want to prolong their government to disqualify me by any means,” said Imran Khan, adding such a decision by the Election Commission against him would be disastrous for the economy and only bring more disrepute to the institution.

He blamed the former army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa for hatching conspiracies against his government and for giving “NRO-2” to the “corrupt” leaders of the PML-N and the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP).

What is NRO?

NRO or National Reconciliation Ordinance was passed during former military leader General Musharraf’s government and under the ordinance, cases against the political leaders were set aside thus enabling them to contest elections.

Imran says General Bajwa gave NRO-2 to the PPP and the PML-N leaders.

In his presser, Imran Khan also spoke about the criticism he is facing mainly by the government and the media over selling of some gifts he received.

“Instead of taking measures for economic recovery, they are focusing on the wristwatch which belonged to me and I can sell it or do whatever I want”, he said while giving a reply to his critics.

Imran said that the country was on the right track and the economy was prospering when he was the prime minister of the country.