Dubai: Cricketer-turned politician Imran Khan has charged that the recently concluded election in Pakistan were manipulated and advocated the need for a strong election commissioner to monitor the poll process.

"What Pakistan needs is a powerful and independent Election Commission like India's and what Kashmir needs is the voice of Kashmiri people uninhibited by any coercion to come through. So there is a big difference between the elections in Kashmir and Pakistan," Khan said when asked to compare the elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan.

Khan, who was elected in the recent Parliament election, said the two were entirely different as Kashmir had a huge presence of Army and security forces and the elections in Pakistan were "manipulated" as usual.

"What is happening in Pakistan is a struggle for Democracy, a struggle for greater voice in running our own affairs", he said.

On the Kashmir issue, Khan said, "I think for both India and Pakistan, we need strong leadership to solve the Kashmir problem as it is damaging both of us and keeping us behind. It is not allowing the sort of progress and investments that should be taking place in both the countries."

"Whenever there is tension, it scares away the investors. More than anything it is disastrous for that part of the world which houses most of the poor of the world," he was quoted by the 'Khaleej Times' as saying.

Imran felt that despite the elections, the situation was still fluid and unstable in Pakistan. He was however, optimistic that the Opposition would be in a position to play its role in the new parliament, ensuring free debate and discussion on the issues of the people.

PTI