The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its convicted founder, Imran Khan, have sought an audit of 30% of seats of the national and provincial assemblies by two Pakistani, non-governmental election observer organisations, as it urged the International Monetary Fund to satisfy "conditionalities" before granting Islamabad of any financial facility.
The letter, written by PTI Founding Chairman Imran Khan's spokesperson Raoof Hasan and sent "under the instructions and on behalf" of Imran, was addressed to IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva.
The letter had been rumoured for a week but only surfaced on Wednesday evening.
Imran's letter reminded the IMF of its conditions for agreeing to last July's $3 billion emergency Stand-By Arrangement (SBA).
"In the last interaction held between Mr. Imran Khan and IMF representatives in 2023, PTI had agreed to support IMF's financing facility involving Pakistan on the condition and reassurance of a free and fair election in the country," he reminded, adding that two weeks after the elections and amid rumours of "were subjected to widespread intervention and fraud in the counting of votes and compilation of results."
Imran claimed that it was not just the PTI which was complaining about the fraudulent activities, but several other Pakistani political parties had also raised the matter while important member countries of the IMF, including the US, Great Britain, and countries forming part of the European Union had "called for a full and transparent investigation into the matter."
"These calls have, however, gone unheeded for more than two weeks now, suggesting that there is no fear of accountability or rule of law with respect to the subversion of the exercise by the people of Pakistan of their right to elect a government," the letter stated.
Imran demanded an audit of at least 30% of the national and provincial assemblies' seats, claiming that this process can be easily accomplished within two weeks.
"We do not call for the IMF to adopt the role of an investigative agency. There are at least two indigenous organisations in Pakistan, namely the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) and PATTAN-Coalition, that have proposed comprehensive methodologies to conduct an audit of the General Elections 2024, which, with some modifications, could be implemented locally to the satisfaction of all stakeholders."
He further asked the IMF to examine a report reportedly prepared by a mission of the European Union on the February 8 general elections and then make it available to the people of Pakistan.
Imran said, "such a role by the IMF would be a great service to Pakistan and its people and could become the harbinger of enduring prosperity, growth, and macroeconomic stability in the country."
Earlier, at the outset of his letter, Imran sought to clarify that his party does not wish to stand in the way of "any IMF facility to the state of Pakistan that promotes the immediate as well as the long-term economic well-being of the country."
However, he drew the Fund's attention towards its guidance note whereby from 1997 onwards, it would review the internal political situation of any member country seeking a loan, including good governance, transparency, upholding the rule of law, and curbing corrupt practices.
He reminded that a government that was considered to be without legitimate representation, when imposed upon a country, would carry no moral authority to govern and, in particular, carry out taxation measures — crucial to shoring up an equation where the country could meet repayment obligations.
"In view of the policies and principles the IMF stands for, there should be no doubt that the abuse of power by a small number of holders of public office to impose their likes and dislikes on Pakistan's populace as aforesaid, and thus to ensure their continuing personal gain, would not be promoted or upheld by the IMF."
Below is a reproduction of the full text of Imran Khan's letter:
Ms. Kristalina Georgieva Managing Director
International Monetary Fund Washington, DC
Dear Ms. Georgieva:
This letter is being sent to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) under the instructions and on behalf of Mr. Imran Khan, the founding Chairman of Pakistan's largest and most popular political party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).
It must be clarified at the very outset that the PTI does not wish to stand in the way of any IMF facility to the state of Pakistan that promotes the immediate as well as the long-term economic well-being of the country. It is clear that such facility, along with the national commitment to bring about necessary reforms that facilitate repayment and enable the country to stand on its own feet, can only be negotiated in the best interests of the people of Pakistan by a duly elected government that has the trust of the people of Pakistan. Here at PTI, we are well aware of the importance the IMF attaches to good governance, transparency, upholding the rule of law, and curbing corrupt practices while entering into financing arrangements with member countries. Specifically relevant in this regard is the policy that IMF adopted in 1997 by way of the Guidance Note "The Role of the IMF in Governance Issues" which has undergone reviews and enhancements in 2018 and 2023. The following excerpts from the aforesaid Guidance Note are relevant:
"... the IMF needs to take a view on whether the member is able to formulate and implement appropriate policies, this is especially clear in the case of countries implementing economic programs supported by the IMF from the guidelines on co nditionality that call on IMF management to judge that 'the program is consistent with the IMF's provisions and policies and that it will be carried out.' As such, it is legitimate for management to seek information about the political situation in member countries as an essential element in judging the prospects for policy implementation". (paragraph 7)
"The staff may also point out that, in an atmosphere of widespread rumors of corrupt practices, and where the rumors have some genuine credence, an independent audit may be desirable to address such concerns". (paragraph 19)
It is a well-established reality that a government without legitimate representation, when imposed upon a country, carries no moral authority to govern, and, in particular, to carry out taxation measures. In the last interaction held between Mr. Imran Khan and IMF representatives in 2023, PTI had agreed to support IMF's financing facility involving Pakistan on the condition and reassurance of a free and fair election in the country.
In the foregoing backdrop, it is noteworthy that the general elections conducted in Pakistan on February 8, 2024, on which public expenditure of about PKR 50 billion (or US$ 180 million) was incurred, were subjected to widespread intervention and fraud in the counting of votes and compilation of results. This intervention and fraud have been so brazen that the IMF's most important member countries including the U.S., Great Britain, and countries forming part of the European Union have called for a full and transparent investigation into the matter. A mission of the European Union has carried out an examination of the general elections of February 8, 2024. The report of the said mission must be examined by the IMF and made available to the people of Pakistan.
In view of the policies and principles the IMF stands for, there should be no doubt that the abuse of power by a small number of holders of public office to impose their likes and dislikes on Pakistan's populace as aforesaid, and thus to ensure their continuing personal gain, would not be promoted or upheld by the IMF.
It is not just the PTI, but several other political parties in Pakistan, along with a number of western governments, Commonwealth observers, local civil society organizations, and international print and electronic media, have called for an independent probe into claims of intervention and electoral fraud in the country on and after February 8, 2024.
"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. An audit of at least thirty percent of the national and provincial assemblies' seats should be ensured, which can be accomplished in merely two weeks.
We do not call for the IMF to adopt the role of an investigative agency. There are at least two indigenous organizations in Pakistan namely the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) and PATTAN-Coalition38 that have proposed comprehensive methodologies to conduct an audit of the General Elections 2024 which, with some modifications, could be implemented locally to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.
Such a role by the IMF would be a great service to Pakistan and its people, and could become the harbinger of enduring prosperity, growth, and macroeconomic stability in the country.
We thank you.
Yours Sincerely,
Raoof Hasan
Spokesperson of Founding Chairman Imran Khan