LAHORE, July 29: The Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf plans to go for a solo-flight in the general elections, relying more on what chairman Imran Khan calls a “youth bomb” of 17 million people enrolled as voters under a government decision to lower the voting age from 20 years to 18, and the agenda for a change fashioned by the party during the past few years.

Talking to Dawn at his Zaman Park residence on Monday, he said his party was determined to take an active part in the October general elections despite the fact that the military rulers had not set up an interim government or an independent and autonomous election commission which almost all political parties had demanded to ensure free and fair elections.

Abstention from the elections would lead to the disintegration of the party, bringing to naught the hardwork of the past six years, the cricket legend-turned-politician said.

“If we succeed in capitalizing on the youth bomb and getting support of a silent majority, the PTI will emerge as a major party after the general elections”.

Imran Khan said his party was pursuing a go-it-alone policy as alliance with pro-status quo parties could confuse the young voters, which were the real strength of the PTI, and a silent majority yearning for a change.

“We don’t want to come to power using government’s crutches. The entire nation knows that a particular party is being supported for the purpose”, the PTI chief said, without naming any party but leaving no doubt that he was referring to the PML-QA.

Claiming an incredible increase in the party’s votebank after the 1997 elections when it had polled only 1.5 per cent of the polled votes, the PTI chief said the latest survey had established that his party now ranked second after the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in Karachi. The survey, which he claimed was very authentic, showed that 10 per cent of the voters were with the PTI which was an achievement by any standards.

“Our party is growing in popular support”, a confident Imran Khan flanked by some other PTI leaders said.

Replying to a question, he said it would be still good if the government appointed a person like Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim as Chief Election Commissioner as he enjoyed the confidence of most of the political parties. But, in his opinion even if the demand remained unmet, the government had come under so much international pressure after the controversial referendum that rigging on the polling day would not be possible. He, however, did not rule out pre-poll rigging.

The PTI chief was once a bitter enemy of Mian Nawaz Sharif and a strong supporter of the Musharraf government. He, however, has lately started criticizing policies of the present rulers. But he strongly defends the change in his stance.

Mian Nawaz Sharif, he alleged, was out to uproot democracy and supplant it with monarchy through Constitution. Compared to him, he stressed, the policies of Gen Musharraf were far better. He said it was a fact that the general had brought about economic stability and introduced the process of accountability.

But, Imran Khan regretted, people were disillusioned when the general buckled under the IMF pressure and raised power tariff which had a spiral effect. Accountability, on the other hand, was reduced to witch-hunting as adherents of a particular party were not touched at all. Thus, he said, a golden opportunity to extirpate corruption and provide people some relief was lost.

In response to a question, the PTI chief said the government could amend the Constitution within the parameters laid down by the Supreme Court. But, he said, it was not fair for Gen Musharraf to take away all powers of the would-be prime minister as the so-called exercise being carried out in the name of striking a balance in the powers of the head of the government and the head of the state would make the resultant system presidential.

Replying to a question, he said he would contest the elections from Mianwali and Swat. However, he said, he was yet to decide whether or not to contest from any Lahore seat.

About any possible role for his wife Jemima Khan, he said it would confine to speaking to women gatherings. “She is a shy woman”.

Imran Khan said although Gen Pervez Musharraf had got himself elected president for a term of five years, it could not take effect unless new parliament ratified the referendum result.

About reports that the PPP chairperson Ms Bhutto was about to return to the country, the PTI chief said in case she staged a comeback, she should face cases pending against her. Her claim that she had her votebank did not mean that she was above the law, Mr Khan said.