In Islamabad, a day after a protest outside the International Monetary Fund (IMF) headquarters in the US over alleged election rigging, PTI founder Imran Khan called for high treason proceedings against officials accused of stealing the people’s mandate in the general elections.

Speaking after the Al-Qadir Trust case hearing, where his spouse Bushra Bibi, aide Zulfi Bukhari, Farah Gogi, and property tycoon Malik Riaz are implicated, Khan endorsed the IMF protest but distanced himself from anti-army slogans. He claimed PTI received over 30 million votes, while 17 parties collectively got the same, alleging electoral irregularities and theft of mandate akin to treason.

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Khan criticized the Peshawar High Court’s decision on reserved seats, vowing to challenge it in the Supreme Court. He called the upcoming Senate polls a ‘fixed match,’ alleging collusion between the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), caretaker government, and few parties.

Regarding the economy, Khan criticized the incumbent government’s handling, refuting claims that PTI left the country on the brink of default. He blamed the PML-N for a $20bn deficit in 2018, necessitating IMF assistance. Khan advised the government to seek loans only if it could repay them.

Discussing his party’s CM meeting Shehbaz Sharif, Khan criticized KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur’s photo session with Shehbaz, fearing it might affect KP’s funding.

During the Al-Qadir Trust case hearing, Khan’s counsel concluded cross-examination, and the court recorded another witness’s statement. The case was adjourned till March 20.