PTI workers hold demonstration outside IMF's Washington headquarters

• Protesters claim to urge IMF to engage with elected representatives.
• PTI's NA seats reduced from 180 to 90, lament demonstrators.
• "This is not a representative assembly," PTI US spokesperson says.

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD: As the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led government engages with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over the release of the final tranche of the $3 billion Standby Arrangement (SBA), workers of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) held a demonstration outside the global lender's Washington headquarters over the issue of alleged rigging in the February 8 polls, The News reported on Saturday.

With PTI founder Imran Khan's former chief of staff Shehbaz Gill and PTI spokesperson in the United States, Sajjad Burki, in attendance, the demonstration — organised by "First Pakistan Global" — alleged that the PTI's National Assembly seats were "reduced" to 90 from 180 in the general elections.

In their speeches, the protesters insisted that the PTI was not preventing the IMF from assisting Pakistan, but urging them to engage with elected representatives to ensure responsible use of funds by the government.

The PTI mandate had been stolen, they claimed, adding that the party that won the majority was deprived of forming the government. "Results show that this is not the representative assembly. This is not the will of people," Burki said while talking to The News.

Meanwhile, Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar slammed a “handful of miscreants" protesting outside the World Bank (WB) and the IMF headquarters in the US.

Addressing reporters in Islamabad, he said these miscreants associated with the PTI were bent upon sabotaging country’s deal with the IMF, which was crucial for economic stability.

“In a bid to disrupt Pakistan’s ongoing talks with the IMF, some miscreants protested in front of the IMF and the World Bank offices in United States and indulged in sloganeering against Pakistan Army,” he added.

“This is a fashionable crowd and these are the enemies of Pakistan who are left with no love for the country,” the minister said while paying tributes to the overseas Pakistanis, who were sending their hard-earned money to the country by doing white- and blue-collar jobs abroad. 

He said the people protesting to stop funding to the people of Pakistan were wearing costly branded shoes and carrying branded bags.

Tarar further said that the country was not created for the agenda on which the PTI was acting. Slamming the PTI, Tarar said, "Their past behaviour was also anti-national. They are demanding the IMF give Pakistan a grant after their leader is released." 

He asked the PTI to tell the nation why they were holding protest demonstrations in the US, as earlier they claimed that Washington had hatched a conspiracy to topple the Khan-led government back in 2022. 

"The anti-national party embroiled in May 9 incidents is working against Pakistan’s interests," he alleged.

They only wanted to sabotage the IMF deal because their dream was to cause Pakistan to default however, the country would make progress and the growth rate would increase soon, the minister said.

The heinous conspiracies of anti-national elements would not have any effect on the IMF deal, the minister said, adding the imprisoned PTI founder was involved in corruption cases including Tosha Khana fraud and 190-million-pound scam, as well as cipher case.

It is pertinent to know that the IMF, earlier this month, confirmed that it had received a letter from a PTI official sent on Khan’s behalf on February 28 on the Fund’s engagement with Pakistan under the loan programme.

However, the Washington-based lender gave a cold shoulder to the former prime minister's demand for an election audit stressing that it has a "narrow mandate on economic issues" and the body does not comment on domestic political developments.

Prior to that in February, IMF’s Director Communications Julie Kozack said that the Fund looks forward to working with the new government on policies to ensure macroeconomic stability and prosperity for all of Pakistan’s citizens.