<p><br /> <br /> Imran demands mid-term polls <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> Wednesday, July 29, 2009<br /> By By Our Correspondent <br /> <br /> LAHORE<br /> <br /> CHAIRMAN Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) Imran Khan has said the NRO-sponsored rulers can become a hurdle in the accountability of former president Pervez Musharraf. Besides, he reiterated his demand for holding mid-term polls stating the rulers must resign if they could not fulfill the pledges made with the nation. <br /> <br /> Addressing a press conference on Tuesday, the PTI chief lambasted the incumbent government for its failure in redressing the grievances of the nation. He said price hike, unemployment and frequent loadshedding had hit the poor population of the country hard but the rulers were paying no heed to solve the prevailing problems. He further stated that the industry was facing a constant closure due to frequent power outages which was pushing the country towards economic disaster. Imran demanded immediate payment to the Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to put an end to the severe power crisis. Imran Khan further stated that the government was unable to control the loadshedding despite making tall claims adding the pledge to end loadshedding by December 31 this year was also a gimmick. <br /> <br /> To a question, Imran Khan said the summoning of a former dictator by Supreme Court was a positive sign but demanded that all those who benefited through the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) should be taken to task. <br /> <br /> When asked if he was hopeful that Musharraf would be tried, he said he had complete faith in judiciary but feared that the rulers who had come to power through an NRO would deter his trial. He said the mid-term elections could prove vital in addressing the current problems and rulers must resign if they couldn???t fulfill the pledges. <br /> <br /> To another query about postponement of Local Government (LG) polls, Imran Khan termed it an undemocratic act and stated that this would merely add to the miseries of common citizens. <br /> <br /> He demanded reversal of decision and holding of LG polls in time. The PTI leaders, including Raja Javed Mujtaba, Saloni Bokhari, Mian Mehmood-ul-Rasheed, Dr Shahid Siddiq and Ishtiaq Malik were also present.</p>