The political party of Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote Wednesday to the International Monetary Fund, asking that lending to the cash-strapped country be tied to an independent audit of the disputed Feb. 8 elections.
Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, or PTI, addressed the letter to IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, saying it was written on his behalf to remind the U.S.-based global lender to uphold its commitment to demanding free and fair elections.
The letter stated that the polls for the national and four provincial assemblies, which cost of $180 million, “were subjected to widespread intervention and fraud in the counting of votes and compilation of results.”
Islamabad has struggled to keep the national economy on track after securing a $3 billion standby arrangement from the IMF last June, with record inflation, local currency devaluation and dwindling foreign exchange reserves.
The letter stated that in the last meeting between Khan and IMF representatives in the lead-up to the standby arrangement, it was agreed that the financing facility would be granted on the condition that free and fair elections were held in Pakistan.
“We, therefore, call upon the IMF to give effect to the guidelines adopted by it with respect to good governance as well as conditionalities that must be satisfied prior to the grant of a finance facility that is to burden the people of Pakistan with further debt,” the letter said.
“An audit of at least 30% of the national and provincial assemblies’ seats should be ensured,” it added.
There was no immediate comment from the IMF on the letter.
