Khan won’t settle for anything less than midterm polls

PTI chief demands dissolution of PML-N govt, installation of caretaker set up

Says it’s too late for Shahbaz Sharif’s efforts to strike a deal

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Thursday reiterated his demand for mid-term elections and vowed to move ahead with his planned ‘million-man march’ towards Islamabad if the government does not accept his party’s demand for early polls.

In an interview with a private news channel, Khan said, “We want dissolution of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)’s government, installation of a caretaker setup and the announcement of midterm polls.”

Khan said his party would continue its sit-in demonstration in Islamabad till these demands are met.

Commenting on the deployment of Pakistan Army in Islamabad and a possible use of brute force to keep PTI’s marchers out of Islamabad, Khan said that in case of any Model Town like violence, he would like to take a bullet in his chest before anyone else.

He alleged that the rulers, “in sheer state of confusion”, have decided to use the armed force as shield to protect their “unlawful rule”.

To a question, he said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif was sending fence-mending messages through a number of channels, but it is too late for a “deal.”

“We are far beyond the political point-of-no-return, thus an understanding with PML-N is out of question now,” said Khan.

He alleged that the rulers have turned democracy into monarchy and turned their sons into princes. Khan alleged that the rulers are involved in money laundering, corruption and tax evasion. Khan reportedly said that the PM’s son has accumulated a Rs 200 billion and lives abroad in a Rs 7 billion flat.

Khan also warned US and Saudi Arabia against meddling in Pakistan’s matters.

The PTI chairman said that his party had been seeking justice from the parliament, Election Commission of Pakistan, election tribunals and the Supreme Court but to no avail.

He expressed his disappointment over “record rigging in the general polls” allegedly executed under the independent, superior judiciary.

He said PTI had earlier demanded verification of votes in only four constituencies but the government was reluctant as it realised that by doing so, it would open up Pandora’s box.

To a question about filing of case against him by former chief justice of Pakistan Iftikhar Chaudhry, Khan said it would provide him a good chance to expose the misdeeds of Chaudhry’s son Arsalan Iftikhar.

Meanwhile, an investigative journalist has claimed that some senior leaders of the Pakistan People’s Party are covertly supporting PTI’s move to dislodge the government.

Journalist Asad Kharal claimed on twitter that some PPP leaders were actively engaged behind the scenes in lobbying support for PTI and that their role would be evident in the run up to the PTI’s announced Azadi March. He did not name the politicians in his tweets.