LAHORE, Dec 8: Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaaf chairman Imran Khan on Thursday alleged that the Sindh government was still refusing him permission to hold the rally on Dec 25 but his party was determined to go ahead with the pledge it had made to the public.

Speaking to newsmen at Lahore airport, he averred the Karachi rally was a national event as it was “designed to bring national unity and peace in the country especially in Karachi” and the party would hold it in the same spirit.

“The PTI is still pressing the reluctant Sindh government for permitting it to hold rally,” he said. Peace in the country, particularly Karachi, was essential for economic prosperity of Pakistan, he said while expressing hope that the government would budge.

As for the national political scene, he said the only solution was “creation of an independent election commission and holding transparent elections.” All bogus votes must be removed from the lists but it's possible only when the election commission was truly independent and worked without fear and favour, he said.

The current setup, he said, had failed because of incompetence and corruption. “Only a clean and sincere leadership can steer the country out of the mess,” he added.