Pakistan lacks funds to conduct elections

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said that the country's finance ministry has no funds to hold elections.

The minister made the revelation while addressing the international media in a joint press conference in Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan, according to India-based news outlets.

Khawaja Asif said the upcoming polls were pushed from April 30 to October 8 because of the country's ‘tough’ financial circumstances and ‘deteriorated’ security situation.

He also pointed out that a shortage in money isn't the only thing that is posing a hindrance to the polls.

The government of Pakistan also considers deployment of sufficient security at polling stations is as a big challenge, he said.

In his address at the press conference on Friday, Khawaja Asif criticised PTI chief Imran Khan, saying his assassination attempt allegation was a lie.

“He first extended the tenure of former army chief General retired Qamar Javaid Bajwa and now he is now blaming him. First, he blamed the US for his ouster,” the defence minister of Pakistan added.

The minister further said that Mr Khan dissolved the provincial assemblies unconstitutionally but he was ousted from his seat constitutionally by a vote of no confidence, and now he doesn't want to appear before the courts.

Asif also blamed the PTI chairman for imprisoning the PML-N leaders during his tenure. He said he was jailed during Mr Khan's three-year tenure and his party leader also faced the courts in fake cases.

“Imran Khan is creating crises every day but the government is tackling those and Pakistan will come out of all these crises soon,” Asif added.