<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Former Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan called again Monday for an early national election after his party seized control of the state assembly in Punjab, the country's most populous province.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Twenty seats were up for grabs in the Punjab by-election, which was seen as a popularity test for the former international cricket star dismissed by a no-confidence vote in April.</div><div><br></div><div>His Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party won 15, with the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) of current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif taking four, and one going to an independent.</div><div><br></div><div>Sunday's vote was also seen as a bellwether for national elections that must be held by October next year, although Khan has campaigned across the country for an earlier poll since being dismissed.</div><div><br></div><div>"The only way forward from here is to hold free and transparent elections," Khan tweeted early Monday after the Punjab votes were tallied.</div><div><br></div><div>"Any other way will only lead to increased political uncertainty and further economic chaos."</div><div><br></div><div>Khan has drawn thousands to rallies since being ousted, giving lengthy speeches claiming the government was imposed on Pakistan by a US-led conspiracy.</div><div><br></div><div>He also blames the current government for soaring inflation, although most analysts agree Sharif inherited the country's economic woes -- which were given some relief last week by an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to resume a rescue package.</div><div><br></div><div>Pakistan newspapers suggested the Punjab result was a consequence of the economic hardships currently felt by the country, which is spending nearly half its income to service dire foreign debt.</div><div><br></div><div>To meet IMF conditions for a resumption of a $7.2 billion aid package, Sharif had to remove subsidies on fuel -- effectively raising prices by more than 50 percent in less than two months.</div><div><br></div><div>"A bitter taste of unpopular decisions," read a headline in the influential Dawn newspaper over a front-page analysis.</div><div><br></div><div>The Punjab assembly vote was called after the election commission disqualified 20 members of the PTI for switching party loyalties.</div><div><br></div><div>The result means the likely end of a short reign as Punjab Chief Minister by Hamza Sharif, the prime minister's son. Source: AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>